Jiang Nuan’s forehead was still pressed against Lu Shiyan’s chest.
Then she heard footsteps and turned her head.
It was the three members of the reconnaissance team.
Ye Que led the way. His black combat uniform was spattered with dark blood, and he carried his sniper rifle in one hand. Wisps of white smoke still clung to the muzzle. He moved at incredible speed, practically skimming over the ruins like a black cheetah that had locked onto its prey.
He stopped three steps away from the two of them.
Shen Wu and Chen Ping’an arrived right behind him.
Shen Wu glanced at the scene before him, then paused. The expression on his face was calm enough to belong in a textbook.
Chen Ping’an followed behind Shen Wu. His gaze lingered on the three of them for a moment before he tactfully moved aside, making more room.
Ye Que switched the sniper rifle to his left hand.
Then he stepped forward and reached out.
His hand slipped through the narrow gap between Jiang Nuan and Lu Shiyan, his fingers closing around Lu Shiyan’s forearm.
“I’ll support the captain.”
His voice was so calm it was beyond reproach.
Caught between the two men, Jiang Nuan could practically feel the cold draft stirred by Ye Que’s arm against her back.
She released Lu Shiyan almost immediately and took half a step back. The movement was so hurried that a faint shiver inexplicably rose along the skin behind her ears.
Lu Shiyan’s gaze swept over Ye Que’s hand, his expression unreadable.
“You’ve worked hard,” he said. His voice was hoarse from overexertion.
The pressure of Ye Que’s hand seemed to increase slightly as he firmly took on most of Lu Shiyan’s weight.
He turned his head toward Jiang Nuan. “I’m glad you’re both all right.”
Shen Wu broke the scalp-prickling tension at just the right moment. “We could see what the captain did from two kilometers away. One man holding up half a building—no exaggeration, that could make the front page of the Federation’s battle report.”
He paused, then glanced at the hand Ye Que had wrapped around Lu Shiyan’s arm and smiled.
“After an ability output of that intensity, it makes sense for someone to support him. It wouldn’t look good if he collapsed halfway there.”
Nicely put.
A familiar voice suddenly rang out in Jiang Nuan’s mind.
“You’re standing in a very interesting position right now.”
Shen Wu’s voice was flat.
“On your left is the captain, who just finished playing god. On your right is the Hound, fresh from killing his way out of hell. You’re caught between a miracle and murderous intent. Isn’t every breath you take wonderfully exciting?”
“Shut up,” Jiang Nuan said.
“All right, all right, I’ll shut up.” There was even a hint of amusement in Shen Wu’s voice. “But Ye Que looks like he’s about to crush the captain’s arm. Do you want to… go break up the fight?”
Jiang Nuan glanced over from the corner of her eye.
Ye Que really was gripping a little too tightly. Yet Lu Shiyan’s expression had not changed in the slightest—not even his eyelids had lifted. He simply allowed Ye Que to support him, as though the arm in question did not belong to him.
Jiang Nuan decided that silence was probably the best option under the circumstances.
She even edged back another half-step, trying to remove herself completely from that delicate center point.
Hurried footsteps came from the distance.
Qinian’s voice reached them first.
“Does anyone have the original image of what the captain just did? Send me a copy. I’m posting it on the Federation’s internal network. The headline will be: ‘Eighteen Uses for Spatial Abilities: How to Replace an Entire Squad with One Man!’”
Qi Sui followed behind him. His black scythe had yet to be put away and was strapped across his back. He swept his gaze over the bizarre scene, his smile as warm and composed as ever, but his footsteps slowed by half a beat as he tugged Qinian two steps backward.
Jiang Ce was the last to arrive. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, he chose to stand at the safest distance.
Chen Ping’an silently edged two steps toward Jiang Ce.
Shen Wu coughed.
The sound drew everyone’s attention.
“Everyone’s here.”
He raised a hand and rubbed his temples.
“Then let’s start by sharing the results of our reconnaissance.”
“This restricted zone… isn’t right.”
