"I am willing. Thank you for your care, Contractor," Yu Mingche said, his face filled with gratitude.

Even though they had only exchanged a few words, Yu Mingche could deeply feel the change in Ning Xuan’s attitude toward him.

In the past, while Ning Xuan would occasionally seem captivated by his looks, they hadn’t actually established a spiritual connection or shared any truly intimate moments. In their day-to-day interactions, she had always been polite yet distant. Their relationship had warmed up during the voyage to the Spiritual Cultivation Secret Realm, but her current attitude was still a world of difference from back then.

Ning Xuan’s attitude just now could almost be called doting. Even after ending the holographic call, Yu Mingche was still in a daze, unable to comprehend the reason for such a change.

’Could it be because Ying Yaoshi’s attitude toward Ning Xuan was too arrogant, causing her dissatisfaction, and that’s why she’s now looking at me in a new light? Or maybe she’s deliberately acting intimately with me to provoke Ying Yaoshi.’

’Whatever the reason, it’s a good change. I just hope this new attitude of hers lasts for a while.’

Back at the base, Ying Yaoshi ended the call. Braving Ning Xuan’s icy glare, he shamelessly wedged himself into her arms. "Xuanyuan, Yu Mingche spent half a year with you day and night on the New Star Body, and he gets to be with you every day from now on. Then there’s Chen Nan, Lin Mo, and all those people—they can all stay by your side. I’m the only one who’s all alone. You finally came all this way to see me, and it had to be during a wormhole crisis. Xuanyuan, are you really in such a hurry to leave? We... we already have a Contract. And even though we’ve completed the spiritual connection, there’s still one thing we haven’t done." Ying Yaoshi suggestively took Ning Xuan’s hand and placed it on his chest.

"You want to? That kind of thing... If you didn’t know what it felt like, it would be one thing. But once you get a taste, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stand the loneliness." Ning Xuan’s hand trailed across his chest, slid past his firm waistline, and continued downward.

Ying Yaoshi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and his muscles instantly tensed. They had already entered the Military Department’s garrison, and soldiers on guard duty were constantly saluting them along the way. Ying Yaoshi quickly grabbed her mischievous hand and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "After so many years in the military, strict self-discipline is my instinct. Xuanyuan, you have to believe me."

"When it comes to that sort of thing, I like to play a game to warm up. If you don’t let me have my fun, it’s not happening." Ning Xuan scanned Ying Yaoshi’s body up and down. Even though he was fully clothed, under Ning Xuan’s gaze, Ying Yaoshi inexplicably felt as if he’d been stripped bare. A flush of heat crept up his cheeks.

"What does Xuanyuan want to play? This Marshal is happy to oblige." Ying Yaoshi stepped forward, covered her eyes, and replied in a low voice.

"In a moment, I’m going to start by slapping this restless paw of yours until it’s swollen," Ning Xuan said coldly.

Ying Yaoshi quickly withdrew his hand. He didn’t doubt the truth in Ning Xuan’s words for a second; she would definitely do as she said. He finally stopped trying to touch her.

"Marshal, Miss Ning, the victory banquet has been prepared. This is the list of attendees, the venue layout, and the program schedule. There are also a few performances added especially for Miss Ning that aren’t on the list. Please, Marshal and Miss Ning, take a look," reported Shen Shiye, who had remained at the base.

Shen Shiye’s attitude toward Ning Xuan was also very respectful; one could say he treated her as Ying Yaoshi’s equal.

Ning Xuan couldn’t help but notice that Ying Yaoshi’s trusted subordinates treated her very well. It seemed he had given them specific instructions.

At this thought, some of the irritation Ning Xuan had felt toward Ying Yaoshi subsided considerably.

However, even though her anger had subsided, Ning Xuan had no intention of letting him off the hook. Before Ying Yaoshi changed into his formal attire for the banquet, she coated his entire body with a potion she had personally concocted, one that could awaken desire and increase skin sensitivity.

Ying Yaoshi didn’t know the potion’s effects yet, nor did he know what kind of torture the long banquet would bring him.

The Military Department’s banquet hall was rarely used, but today it had been decorated to be splendid and magnificent.

Myriad starlights cascaded from the dome, and the surroundings were hung with glazed lanterns. The floor, paved with Star Shining Stones, was bright and resplendent under the lanterns’ glow. Attendants in cyan robes moved through the hall holding green jade pots filled with fragrant, fine wine.

The various military officers who had already arrived at the venue found their designated seats and gathered in small groups of two and three, chatting with one another.

After Ning Xuan and Ying Yaoshi took their seats at the head table, all the officers present saluted them in unison.

Ying Yaoshi waved his hand to dismiss the formality, and Shen Shiye, as the host of the banquet, clapped his hands lightly.

DING—

The light chime of a golden bell cut through the clamor. A troupe of young men of uniform height, dressed in colorful clothes with golden Collars around their necks, walked gracefully to the center of the hall and began to dance.

The bells chimed crisply, and the dance was graceful, combining both beauty and power. It looked quite distinctive.

This was the opening dance.

Ning Xuan leaned back on a soft couch draped with Xuan Fox Fur, watching the performances Shen Shiye had meticulously arranged for the victory banquet.

These soldiers, usually so serious and proper, were now putting on a respectable performance, whether it was dancing or sword dancing, and it was quite entertaining to watch.

Ning Xuan sat to the side, watching with great interest.

However, Ying Yaoshi, sitting beside her, was not nearly as comfortable.

Ying Yaoshi was feeling quite restless. He had originally assumed the substance Ning Xuan had applied to his body was just some kind of aphrodisiac. Given his physical constitution, he figured that even if he wasn’t completely immune, it wouldn’t affect him much.

He never would have expected the potion to have such an effect.

After all, it was a victory banquet. Besides the performances, there were also speeches from various teams and departments.

Dean Wen, having had a few glasses of fine wine, was in particularly high spirits. Being old and highly respected, she grabbed Ning Xuan’s hand, placed it on Ying Yaoshi, and said, "Xuanyuan, you and General Ying are truly a perfect match! If it weren’t for you this time, the base would have suffered disastrous losses, and the Marshal wouldn’t have been able to escape unscathed."

"And General Lv, General Wang, General Wen—the injuries you all suffered back then were all healed by Ning Xuan! If she hadn’t been here, it wouldn’t have been so easy for me to cure you," Dean Wen said, calling them out one by one.

The generals Dean Wen had named all came forward one after another to toast Ning Xuan. Each wore a look of gratitude, and they even started vying with each other to perform for her entertainment.

Ying Yaoshi bit his lip so hard it almost bled. He sat there, stiff as a board, not daring to move an inch. He maintained a faint smile on his face as he exchanged pleasantries with those who came up to offer toasts.

Finally, when Dean Wen had drunk her fill and was swaying as she walked, Ying Yaoshi raised his voice, interrupting his subordinates who were still excitedly competing to perform, and announced the end of the banquet.