The beast was dozens of meters long and winged. A gentle flap of its wings was enough to kick up a gale. The howling wind swept over Xingluo Bay, churning the surface of the entire lake!

Just as Yan Fuzhen was worrying that the vision would attract trouble, the behemoth vanished in an instant. The apparition in the sky dissipated, the lake grew calm, and Ying Yaoshi, dressed all in black, abruptly appeared before him. He tossed the Scale Armor that Yan Fuzhen had just used back at him, and Yan Fuzhen anxiously caught it.

"Master, this Lifebound Scale Armor can only be used three times. It’s a shame to use up one of its charges so casually!" Yan Fuzhen said regretfully as he received the scale, looking at the new crack on its surface.

This scale was a piece of Lifebound Scale Armor shed by Ying Yaoshi’s Companion Spirit, the Four-winged Ying Snake, during its advancement. After being specially refined, it could be used as a locator. Ying Yaoshi, who had been on the Star Domain Battlefield, had used his Talent Skill, the Infinite Distance Technique, to instantly teleport to the scale’s location.

"Cut the crap. If you hadn’t botched the job, would I have needed to come all this way?" Ying Yaoshi said dismissively.

Yan Fuzhen didn’t dare utter another word.

He hadn’t paid much mind to the Contractor the Central Computer had matched him with. Given his current standing, the laws of the Federation held little sway over him.

Still, being rejected was a blow to his pride. After all, this was the woman the Central Computer had matched him with, boasting a compatibility rating of over 90%. Furthermore, in just a few short months, her Spiritual Power Level had shot up to B-Level at an unnatural pace. Ying Yaoshi found himself somewhat curious about this Ning Xuan.

With a faint flicker, he appeared at Ning Xuan’s front door.

Ning Xuan’s heart was still in turmoil after she got home. She activated her Light Computer and looked up Ying Yaoshi’s profile. There were no photos of him on the Star Network, and his biography consisted of only a few brief lines. Aside from some dubious rumors about his violent nature, she couldn’t find any truly useful information.

Just then, there was a knock on the main door. Ning Xuan glanced at Chen Nan, who immediately rose to see who it was. When he returned, however, he had brought someone with him.

Ning Xuan’s gaze slowly lifted, finally settling on the tall man before her. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

His ramrod-straight posture bore the unmistakable mark of a soldier. Though he stood perfectly still, he exuded an undeniable aura of authority. He was very tall and dressed in all black—a shade so deep it seemed to devour the surrounding light. The clothes were perfectly tailored to his frame, accentuating his broad shoulders, trim waist, and long, powerful legs.

His physique was lean and powerful, like a masterfully rendered painting where every line was perfect.

His features were stark and exquisite, like a statue carved by a master artist. His facial features were sharp and well-defined, each proportion and line seemingly calculated to perfection. He had a straight, elegant nose, bright, deep-set eyes, and brows as sharp as blades. His gaze was fierce. He emanated a potent mix of power and feral energy.

Chen Nan trailed behind him, his heart pounding in terror as he looked at Ning Xuan. The man exuded an overwhelming pressure that made resistance impossible.

Ning Xuan had risen to her feet without realizing it. Before she could open her mouth, Ying Yaoshi was already standing before her, his star-bright eyes fixed on her, unblinking.

If Yan Fuzhen had been there, he would surely have noticed how out of character his master was acting. Marshal Ying, who was normally as cold as a blade, now had a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"Miss Ning, it’s a pleasure to meet you!" Ying Yaoshi extended a hand to Ning Xuan.

Ning Xuan looked at his well-defined hand but didn’t take it. Frowning, she asked, "Who are you?"

"I’m Ying. Ying Yaoshi." ’He felt an unprecedented urge to get closer to her. He suppressed the restless stirring in his heart, grateful he had acted on a whim and come today.’

’This young woman’s Companion Spirit had only just awakened. It was still unformed, in its extremely weak nascent stage, yet it could inspire fear in his Win Snake. It was truly incredible!’

"So it’s you," Ning Xuan said, sizing him up. "You don’t look as old as I expected."

A High-level Spirit Controller’s lifespan was between 300 and 800 years. At 55, he was actually still very young.

Ning Xuan appeared calm, but her heart was racing. THUMP, THUMP. ’Get a grip,’ she silently cursed herself. ’He’s just a man. A man who already rejected me once, at that. I’m not interested!’

Ying Yaoshi finally decided to give in to his impulse. No longer restraining his eager hands, he grabbed Ning Xuan’s arm, pulling her into his embrace. He forced the Mysterious Ring onto her finger, then used her hand to activate her Light Computer. He navigated to the contract termination screen and tapped "Cancel Application" next to his own name.

It all happened in a mere three to five seconds. By the time he was finished, all Ning Xuan could do was stare at him, dumbfounded.

"What are you doing?" A deep sense of helplessness tinged Ning Xuan’s question. She could sense Ying Yaoshi’s immense power. In truth, she was still reeling from his sudden appearance.

"Application withdrawn. Ning Xuan, Fuzhen told me you’re worried I might bring you danger. I can promise you that won’t happen. For one, I’ll have people protecting you in secret. For another, if you don’t want to hold a Contract ceremony, our contractual relationship will be classified. No one will be authorized to look it up." Ying Yaoshi held the struggling Ning Xuan tightly, a resigned smile on his face.

"Don’t be mad. You won’t regret taking me on. You can live any kind of life you want. I won’t interfere; I’ll just have your back." ’Ying Yaoshi felt like he was using up a lifetime’s supply of patience all in one day.’

Ning Xuan looked at his face and suddenly stopped struggling. "Do you really mean that?" she asked.

"I do," Ying Yaoshi replied, nodding earnestly.

"You’d better keep your word!" Ning Xuan said awkwardly, turning her head away.

"Marshal, there’s unusual activity in the Star Domain Battlefield! You need to get back here right away!" Yan Fuzhen’s urgent voice crackled from the communicator on Ying Yaoshi’s wrist.

"I have to go, Ning Xuan. I’m leaving Yan Fuzhen at your disposal. I’ll miss you." With that, Ying Yaoshi touched a point in the empty air, leaped toward it, and vanished.

Ning Xuan could feel the residual energy rippling through the air—a violent, fleeting surge that had erupted from Ying Yaoshi.

’Ying Yaoshi, the Federation’s Grand Marshal of the Army. His status was immense, his power unfathomable. For a man like that to resort to such tactics! Hijacking someone else’s Light Computer like a common rogue!’ Ning Xuan stared at the spot where he had vanished, a storm of complicated emotions brewing within her. She hadn’t been repulsed by his forwardness; she had even found herself willing to let him get close.