Interstellar Farming: I Make Potions and Climb to the Top
Chapter 327: Settling Accounts
Ning Xuan openly and unabashedly kept Yun Han by her side. Such situations weren’t uncommon in the military, and by marking Yun Han as her own, Ning Xuan was also preventing anyone from causing him trouble after she deployed to the battlefield.
Although with Yun Han’s true strength, he wouldn’t be in any danger at this base, open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden threats are hard to guard against. If someone forced him to reveal his real identity, she wouldn’t be able to stay here either.
The lively victory banquet naturally included all sorts of entertainment. By the second half of the evening, many people had been drinking.
"Ning Zhi, why did you choose him instead of me? Where do I fall short? Do you just like weaklings like him? If you want someone delicate, I can be that too! Take me with you, let’s give it a try." Emboldened by alcohol, Hua Shangnan had run out to pester Ning Xuan.
"You’re drunk. Get him out of here." Ning Xuan gestured for the surrounding security personnel to come and drag him away.
"Don’t touch me! All of you, get lost! Ning Zhi, if you’re not willing, I won’t force you. I just want to tell you, my feelings for you have never changed. I don’t care if there’s someone else by your side," Hua Shangnan declared, gazing at Ning Xuan affectionately.
Ning Xuan rubbed the goosebumps that had broken out on her arms. She had already rejected Hua Shangnan so many times. ’Why won’t this guy just give up?’
After the banquet, on the way back to her residence, Ning Xuan couldn’t help but ask Yun Han, "Is it the same inside the Heavenly Might Corps? Are same-sex relationships allowed?"
"Lord Contract Master, same-sex relationships are not permitted under Federation law. However, with so few female Spirit Controllers, these situations are unavoidable. The Heavenly Might Corps has cases like this too, but they aren’t as brazen as they are here." In other words, the culture varied between each legion and military district. This particular district was remote and had even fewer women, so its customs were bolder.
"Can same-sex relationships resolve issues with spiritual power rampages and abnormal Mutated Values?" Ning Xuan asked curiously.
"Of course not," Yun Han replied without a second thought.
"Then what problems do they solve by being together?" Ning Xuan asked.
"Well, I don’t know..." ’I’ve never discussed such things with other men, so how would I know?’ Yun Han thought.
It wasn’t far from the banquet hall to Ning Xuan’s residence. They arrived back at her courtyard as they were talking.
Yun Han attentively helped Ning Xuan out of her formal gown and into her loungewear, even kneeling on the floor to help her change her shoes.
"Did you know Ming Che before?" Ning Xuan asked out of the blue, sitting on the sofa after changing her clothes.
"We’ve met a few times, but I wouldn’t say we’re acquainted," Yun Han replied cautiously, still kneeling before Ning Xuan.
Yun Han knew that Ning Xuan was out gaining experience under a hidden identity and naturally didn’t allow them to accompany her. By seeking her out on his own, he had gone against her wishes. Ning Xuan was about to hold him accountable.
"How did you find out I was here?" Ning Xuan asked directly.
"Don’t lie to me," Ning Xuan added.
"I..." Yun Han looked at her, hesitating.
"Speak," Ning Xuan urged, displeased.
"I begged Yu Mingche. I went to the Second Corps Headquarters Base to find you three times, but I couldn’t see you. On the last attempt, I forced my way in and immediately realized the person there wasn’t you at all. I was afraid something had happened to you, and my actions angered Yu Mingche. During our dispute, I discovered that he had already found your whereabouts, so I used the information he uncovered to find my way here." Yun Han tried to downplay Yu Mingche’s role in the matter, shouldering all the blame himself.
Ning Xuan snorted. If Yu Mingche hadn’t wanted Yun Han to see the information he’d found, Yun Han never would have.
However, Yu Mingche had done it out of concern for her safety. He had even been clever enough to send Yun Han over indirectly. In the end, Ning Xuan wasn’t truly angry about what they had done.
"Can you take off that disguise on your face? It’s awkward to look at," Ning Xuan said with a frown.
Yun Han recalled how Ning Xuan had deliberately covered his face last night. It seemed she really disliked this disguised face.
"If I take it off, I won’t be able to restore it perfectly by myself. It would definitely arouse suspicion," Yun Han said apologetically.
"Then forget it. I still have several battles to fight. Once they’re over, my newly awakened Companion Spirit will be stabilized, and I’ll leave this place," Ning Xuan said, waving her hand to indicate he shouldn’t remove the disguise.
"What did you say? Didn’t you awaken your Companion Spirit long ago? Is there something wrong with it? No, that can’t be right. Your Spiritual Power Level and overall strength are clearly greater than before. There couldn’t be a problem," Yun Han asked in surprise upon hearing her words.
"I awakened a second Companion Spirit. Look, it’s a Little Dragon." Ning Xuan was feeling quite pleased with her subsequent increase in strength. Since Yun Han was someone she could trust, she summoned the Little Dragon to show him.
Ning Xuan held out her palm, and an exquisite Little Dragon spiraled into existence. It was no longer than her forearm, its body covered in fine, golden scales that shimmered brilliantly in the light. The edges of the scales were tinged with a faint crimson, as if dyed.
On its head were two small, white, jade-like bumps, slightly raised, hinting at the nascent shape of future horns. A translucent, tender membrane covered the bumps, trembling slightly as the Little Dragon shook its head. A pair of glistening, amber-colored vertical pupils tilted its head to study Yun Han.
"Th-This is... a True Dragon?" In his astonishment, Yun Han knocked over a teacup on the nearby long table, which fell with a CLANG.
"A True Dragon? How do you know?" Ning Xuan pressed.
"There are many draconic and serpentine Companion Spirits, and they are divided into many levels. For example, Marshal Ying Yaoshi’s Win Snake is a Mythical Level Companion Spirit. However, most Spirit Controllers only awaken ordinary serpentine Exotic Beasts. The types of dragons are even more varied, with most being the lower-Level Horned Dragons. But your dragon, despite its small size, is a True Dragon, whether judging by its appearance or the bloodline aura it radiates," Yun Han explained.
"Even the Vermilion Bird can’t handle it, so its Level must be high." Ning Xuan replied with great confidence. After all, both were her Companion Spirits, born from the bloodline within her; she had a good sense of their capabilities.
"We’re getting sidetracked. Back to the matter at hand. In light of your meritorious service last night, I won’t settle the score with you here. However, once we’re back on the Central Star, I will settle this account with both you and Yu Mingche," Ning Xuan said.
"Yes," Yun Han replied, lowering his head respectfully.
"I’m heading down to the surface to fight tomorrow. Be careful when you’re helping at the medical center. Don’t let those two take advantage of you," Ning Xuan instructed Yun Han.
"Yes. Rest assured, Lord Contract Master," Yun Han replied obediently.