Ning Xuan dismissed the Little Dragon, then pinched Yun Han’s face and teased, "Even with this disguise, you’re still turning heads. How can I possibly rest easy?"

Not to be outdone, Yun Han caressed Ning Xuan’s face in return. "Xuanyuan, you have a long, fake scar on your face, but aren’t people still flocking to you all the same? Hua Shangnan is decent-looking, and he was so forward with you. Aren’t you even a little interested in him?"

"We haven’t seen each other for a few months, and you’ve certainly gotten bold. Have you forgotten your place?" Ning Xuan asked, giving Yun Han a faint smile.

"If my Lord Contract Master allows it, I could be even bolder." Yun Han tentatively rested his head against Ning Xuan, his hand reaching out to touch her.

The next moment, he was flung through the air. His vision blurred, and with a THUD, Ning Xuan tossed him onto the bed.

The next morning, Ning Xuan left early. Yun Han had planned to secretly follow her to the battlefield, but she had played a trick on him to keep him from waking up. By the time he finally came to, Ning Xuan was already gone. Yun Han got out of bed and found breakfast on the table, along with a note. The note told him to rest well and that he only needed to show his face at the medical center once a day. There was no need to waste all his time there.

After breakfast, Yun Han decided to head to the medical center. The moment he stepped out the door, he ran right into Hua Shangnan, who was storming toward him.

"Perfect timing. Let’s go sit at the teahouse over there. I have something to say to you," Hua Shangnan said, his expression grim as he looked at Yun Han.

"If you have something to say, just say it here. We don’t need to go anywhere," Yun Han said, raising an eyebrow. ’Has Hua Shangnan figured out Ning Xuan is a woman? Why else would he be so obsessed with him?’

"Fine, I’ll be blunt. I’ve looked into your background. Your Spiritual Power Level is only A-level, your Companion Spirit is just a common beast, and your combat skills are abysmal. You’re a commoner born on a low-level planet. Aside from a nice body, you have no merits whatsoever. Ning Zhi took a liking to you only because you’re weak and easy to manipulate—and just as easy to discard. He’s just toying with you. Nothing good will come from your relationship with him," Hua Shangnan said, looking down his nose at Yun Han.

"Commander Ning and I are both men. I never expected we would have any kind of future together. Does Major General Hua truly believe a lasting, stable relationship can exist between two men?" Yun Han asked, giving Hua Shangnan a baffled look.

Hua Shangnan was struck speechless by Yun Han’s question. It was true—same-sex relationships weren’t protected by law. They were typically just temporary arrangements for mutual comfort and companionship, never meant to last. ’But then,’ he wondered, ’why is it that when I see Ning Zhi, I get the feeling that if he would just accept me, we could be together forever?’

Hua Shangnan couldn’t figure out what was wrong. Faced with Yun Han’s question, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Y-you... if that’s how you feel, then why waste your time here? I can give you a sum of money, arrange a new identity for you. Just leave this place." Hua Shangnan decided to press his advantage while Ning Zhi was away and get this person out of the picture.

"I can’t do that. Commander Ning told me to wait for him to return. He’s been very good to me, so I can’t just leave without a word." Yun Han was inwardly speechless. ’This Hua Shangnan is from a side branch of the Huajia family. Even so, he’s still from a major clan. How could he resort to such underhanded schemes?’

"One million Star Gold. That’s enough for you to find a mid-level planet and live out your days in peace. If you agree to leave, I’ll transfer the money to your account immediately." Hua Shangnan didn’t have a lot of personal wealth, so he was really putting a lot on the line.

But he felt Ning Xuan was worth it.

"But..." Just as Yun Han was about to make an excuse, a deafening BOOM echoed through the area. The underground base they were in began to shake violently.

Yun Han quickly grabbed a nearby pillar for support, and Hua Shangnan happened to grab the same one. Hua Shangnan’s face turned grim as he looked up toward the surface. "For the underground base to shake this violently... something must have happened in orbit."

"I have official duties to attend to. We’ll talk another time." With that, Hua Shangnan scrambled away in a panic. As the base continued to shake violently, he cut a rather pathetic figure.

Yun Han stared upward, his face filled with worry. ’Something must have happened where Ning Xuan is. I wonder if she’s safe.’

About half an hour later, the shaking finally stopped. Yun Han went straight to the medical center. It was where the wounded were brought, so it was a good place to get information. Plus, the people sent by Ying Yaoshi and Yu Mingche would know to look for him there.

Yun Han had just arrived at the medical center when one of Ying Yaoshi’s men found him. "Young Master Yun, Miss Ning is incredibly powerful! Her Companion Spirit is a dragon that commands thunder and lightning. During this massive assault by the Thunder Beasts, only Zone 11, which she leads, was victorious. All other combat zones have been completely overrun and have retreated underground," the man reported excitedly.

"All the other zones have been completely overrun?" Yun Han repeated in astonishment.

"Yes, Young Master Yun. It’s actually like this every year. Eventually, we’re always overrun by the Thunder Beasts, and that marks the end of our annual mining season. The longer we can hold out, the more we can mine. Thanks to Miss Ning’s outstanding performance, the season has already been extended by a month compared to previous years." The more the Thunder Beasts fought, the stronger and more numerous they became, so defeat was always inevitable.

"But if all the other zones have retreated underground, doesn’t that put even more pressure on Ning Xuan? Hasn’t the base sent reinforcements to support them?" Yun Han asked.

"Not yet. In previous years, every zone has fallen at roughly the same time, so the fighting usually ends for everyone within the same period," the man said, shaking his head.

The sky above the Ninth Mining Zone was shrouded in thick, black clouds, with white lightning periodically arcing between them.

Ning Xuan was clad in armor, her head encased in a helmet. On its holographic display, the energy signatures of over a dozen Thunder Beasts flickered.

These Star Beasts now blocked Ning Xuan’s path. They stood four to five meters tall, their bodies covered in long, white fur that crackled with blinding sparks of electricity.

Ning Xuan knew just how terrifying these Thunder Beasts were in close combat. They were incredibly fast and highly resilient. Their claws were sharp enough to rip through steel, and coupled with the high-voltage currents they discharged from their bodies, any creature that drew near would face a devastating assault.

But Ning Xuan wasn’t afraid of them. She had long since figured out this type of Star Beast’s habits and weaknesses. She swiftly summoned her newly awakened Companion Spirit and launched her attack.