QT: The Rescue Of The Miserable Bigshots-Chapter 286 - 9.32

In his sleep, as if instinctively sensing a dangerous aura, Jiang Jiamian’s body tensed. Though sound asleep just moments ago, his eyes snapped open, cold light flashing in them.

And what greeted him was Ling Zhuang’s face, wearing a smile so dark and twisted it sent a chill down his spine.

Jiang Jiamian’s pupils shrank. "Ling Zhuang!"

Ling Zhuang’s fingers trembled once, and then his grip on Jiang Jiamian’s cheek suddenly tightened.

"You lunatic!"

Jiang Jiamian raised his hand almost reflexively to block him. Driven purely by instinct, and by the subconscious knowledge of Ling Zhuang’s strength, he summoned a power that did not belong to this world’s energy system.

A blinding surge of white light burst from his palm, laced with the biting chill of snow and wind.

With a low crackle, the air itself seemed to freeze.

Ling Zhuang barely had time to react. He released Jiang Jiamian instantly, stepping back in one smooth motion, dodging just as the surge struck the air where his arm had been.

The light exploded outward with a deafening thud, shattering the nearby table into a spray of splinters and ash.

Ling Zhuang’s pupils constricted. His calm facade flickered. "What kind of power is that?"

This wasn’t any supernatural ability he recognized, not elemental, not mental, not even biological mutation. It was otherworldly. And worse, he could tell Jiang Jiamian had held back.

If that power were unleashed fully, it could tear the world apart.

Jiang Jiamian glared at him, furious. "What’s it to you!?"

Damn it!

He’d even been trying to trust this man, going so far as to tease him, to let his guard down, and this was what he got?

Attacked in his sleep!

If he didn’t teach this pervert a lesson today, he’d really be a fool!

But before he could lunge forward again, Ling Zhuang suddenly threw his head back and laughed. His laughter rang through the room, low at first, then wild. "Hahaha! Jiang Jiamian, my dear Jiang Jiamian, how could I ever destroy you? I just..."

The laughter died down into a quiet smile.

A moment ago, yes, the thought had flickered through his mind: to make Jiang Jiamian his alone, even if it meant breaking him. But that madness had passed as quickly as it came. His affection, his fascination, was stronger than the impulse to ruin.

Still, curiosity gnawed at him.

Where did Jiang Jiamian’s true strength lie? What was his limit?

The supposed score of ninety-eight on that test was a lie for the gullible. Ling Zhuang didn’t believe for a second that such a number could define this man. He could feel the depth of that hidden power, like an abyss.

"Just what?" Jiang Jiamian snapped, his anger rising again. He wanted to grab a hammer and smash that smug face in.

As if oblivious to the danger, Ling Zhuang stepped forward calmly, every movement deliberate. His voice softened. "I just wanted to know how strong you are."

Jiang Jiamian’s lips twisted into a smirk. "Strong enough to be your father."

Ling Zhuang paused. "..."

A vein throbbed at his temple.

Still, instead of anger, he lifted Jiang Jiamian’s hand gently and, to the younger man’s utter disgust, pressed a light kiss to his knuckles. "You’re my beloved, my precious Zombie King. If your anger hasn’t burned out yet, you can turn me into sand, mold me however you like."

Jiang Jiamian froze, grimacing. "..."

God, how disgusting.

Did this lunatic think everyone shared his obsession with twisting people into playthings?

Still... Jiang Jiamian had to admit, the sheer shamelessness almost worked.

He sighed, pinching Ling Zhuang’s shoulder with a backhanded grip. "My request is simple. I told you yesterday, I want you to become a good person, a savior of this world."

Ling Zhuang’s lips curved slightly. "Then I will follow your divine decree, my emperor."

Jiang Jiamian rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a faint laugh. Somehow, this absurd exchange eased most of his fury. "Also, speak normally, would you?"

Ling Zhuang pushed his glasses up, resuming his calm, scholarly tone. "Fine. Then let’s talk business. Have you decided where you’ll go? Are you joining a squad, or coming to the lab with me? You’ll hate those chaotic teams, and Fang Jing..." His voice darkened. "He’s already trying to win you over."

And if Fang Jing failed, he’d switch immediately from recruitment to elimination.

For someone like Fang Jing, desperate to maintain control, it was the only logical move.

Jiang Jiamian smiled faintly. "Of course I’ve thought about it. You’re right, no matter which team I join, I’d still be living under someone else’s command. Even if I follow you to your lab, I’d be under yours. So I came up with a better idea."

Ling Zhuang tilted his head. "Oh?"

"I’ll form my own team." Jiang Jiamian declared proudly. "Name’s already decided - the Lone Team."

Ling Zhuang blinked, caught off guard. "A team... of one?"

"Of course not. What kind of team has one person? I’ll start by pulling my sister, Jiang Qing, in."

"No." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The refusal came instantly, sharp and absolute.

"You still want to team up with her alone?" Ling Zhuang’s voice turned icy. "Jiang Jiamian, are you not afraid I’ll kill her?"

His tone was quiet, but the possessiveness beneath it made the air thrum.

Jiang Jiamian’s lips curved upward. "Oh, I’m afraid. That’s why I’d like to invite Professor Ling to join my team as well. Of course, you’d be free to choose whether to go on missions."

Ling Zhuang stared at him. "You’re impossible."

He sighed, expression shifting from irritation to reluctant amusement. "I know you see her as a sister. But that doesn’t mean she’s managed to erase her own feelings for you. If you two work together alone, that could get messy."

He could never bring himself to actually kill Jiang Qing.

Jealous? Yes. Furious? Often. But to kill her would sever something essential between him and Jiang Jiamian, something he wasn’t yet willing to lose.

Besides, he had tested Jiang Jiamian’s strength firsthand. The difference between them was too vast. He couldn’t subdue him easily.

Jiang Jiamian smirked. Tch. Old man’s not only perverted but also flexible. Truly impressive.

Ling Zhuang continued, tone more analytical now. "Besides, Fang Jing will never allow it. You’re too strong. If you establish your own team, you’ll instantly become a threat. And threats don’t live long in City A."

He wasn’t exaggerating. Fang Jing had already been planning to suppress Xiao Jinfeng’s Gale Squad. If Jiang Jiamian declared independence, the base leader would act faster than anyone expected.

"I know." Jiang Jiamian replied, unfazed. "You’re not stupid, and neither am I. You’re curious about what Fang Jing might do, well, so am I."

Ling Zhuang raised an eyebrow. "Curious?"

Jiang Jiamian reclined lazily against the headboard, his smile deceptively easy. "I’ll apply to form a team tomorrow. If I’m right, he’ll come to persuade me himself. He’ll pretend to agree at first, but I’ll already be branded as a potential threat. After that..." He shrugged. "We’ll see what kind of little trap he sets."

Ling Zhuang fell silent, his gaze dark and thoughtful.

Fang Jing’s scheming, Jiang Jiamian’s arrogance, his own possessiveness, all of it wove together into a dangerous, irresistible knot.

"Ah..." Jiang Jiamian murmured, his voice light but eyes gleaming. "I’m really curious how he’ll try to plot against me."

Ling Zhuang: "..."

If he didn’t know how terrifyingly strong Jiang Jiamian is, he would kill that idiot, Fang Jing, the moment he had such thoughts.