「Interstellar Black Canyon, White Tiger Fleet Base」
The cockpit door of the nine-meter-tall Fierce Tiger Mecha slowly opened, and a tall, slender figure leaped down.
Ying Jiuyao casually brushed his sweat-damp hair back from his forehead, revealing a handsome, chiseled face.
His Gilded Beast Eyes glinted coldly in the sunlight, as sharp and captivating as a drawn blade.
He had just finished an exhilarating battle, tearing five A Level Mutant Beast leaders to pieces with his own hands.
What surprised him most was that after this battle, his Spiritual Domain was unusually clear, without the slightest hint of chaos or throbbing pain.
'Could it be that female's soothing actually worked?'
Ying Jiuyao frowned slightly and opened the contacts on his terminal.
His fingertip hovered over the entry for "Female Master," hesitating.
It had been three days.
Usually, Su An'an would have already been furiously ordering him to return and "fulfill his duties," but this time, she was surprisingly quiet.
'Has she finally grown tired of tormenting me, or has she found a new toy?'
"Commander, Cedric is looking for you," his comms unit suddenly crackled.
Ying Jiuyao snapped out of his thoughts and said coldly, "Patch him through."
A Light Screen unfolded, and the wild-looking face of his deputy, Cedric, appeared.
Ying Jiuyao's lips curled into a dangerous smile. "I've already picked out your graveyard. The Crimson Skull Pool, the nest of an A Level Mutant Beast leader. It's the perfect place for you to die in battle."
Cedric: "..."
'Why is the Commander even more vicious than a Mutant Beast today?!'
The centipede-like scar on his face twitched violently, and his rough voice held a note of desperation. "Commander, I don't want to die yet."
"Thinking of backing out?"
Ying Jiuyao's Gilded Beast Eyes contracted, and his sharp tiger claws shot out.
"Do you want me to rip you to shreds right now?"
On the last mission, this mad lion had gone berserk and nearly slaughtered the entire squad.
It was Cedric who had said he wanted to die on the battlefield, which was the only reason Ying Jiuyao had defied the military command's pressure and snatched him off the Mad Beast Institute's euthanasia list.
"Commander, I received a livestream invitation from 'Beastman Soothing'."
Cedric held up a contract, a rare, pleading look on his face.
"If this soothing session fails... I'll end my own life."
"A contract from that treacherous fox, Fei Zhao?"
Ying Jiuyao glanced at the swirling foxtail insignia in the corner of the document and stroked his chin.
"That fox never makes a losing deal. Approved."
The tense muscles in Cedric's back finally relaxed.
'He had fought tooth and nail to get from a Primitive Tribe to the White Tiger Fleet; he'd be damned if he let some poison destroy him.'
"When's the stream? I'll check it out."
Ying Jiuyao stretched and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
Cedric glanced at the contract. "Saturday, eight o'clock."
"Got it. Dismissed."
Ying Jiuyao waved his hand and shut off the Light Screen.
He crossed his hands behind his head, and the image of Su An'an's brilliant smile flashed through his mind.
A honey-sweet voice called out, "Big Cat, you're so good to me."
His heart stirred. He grabbed his terminal, about to make a call, when a message from Lan Cangming arrived.
*Princess Su An'an purchased Forbidden Medicine. Fined nine billion gold coins.*
CRACK!
Spiderweb cracks spread across the armrest beneath his tiger claws.
"Forbidden Medicine? For a heat?" His low voice was thick with suppressed fury. "You were actually willing to spend nine billion for that cold fish."
His heart felt like it was being soaked in acid, a sharp, stinging pain blooming in his chest.
Ying Jiuyao shot to his feet, his snow-white tiger tail bushing out behind him, every single hair standing on end.
"That foolish, blind woman!"
He flew his Silver Tiger Battle Armor towards the Mutant Beast Nest, instantly unleashing a tide of blood.
'If there's nowhere to place this unventable rage, then let blood be the thing to quell it!'
「Empire Court, Deputy's Office」
"Deputy Cold, should I help you deliver this last document to Lord Night Abyss?"
The new Red Snake Beastman asked, shrinking his neck and keeping his voice extremely low.
Leng Qingfeng raised his eyes, his dark green, slitted pupils sweeping over him.
The look in his eyes was as cold as a poisoned Ice Blade, so frightening that the Red Snake Beastman's scales flared up in terror.
He was the only deputy in the entire Judgement Hall to have survived by Night Abyss's side for seven years.
"No need."
Leng Qingfeng put on his black military cap and walked toward the pitch-black metal door at the end of the hall, document in hand.
The moment the door opened, a wave of cold air washed over him.
Night Abyss sat behind a large desk, the cold light reflecting off his rimless glasses and making his skin seem as white as snow.
His black hair fell like flowing venom, a stark contrast to the crimson carpet.
Red, black, and white—these three extreme colors intertwined around him, creating a picture that was both dangerous and ethereally beautiful.
"Lord Executor."
Leng Qingfeng set the document down. "The Princess has applied for an installment plan. Six installments in total, at 1.48 billion gold coins each."
Night Abyss chuckled, his fingertips lifting the document.
His fingernails were an unnatural, vivid red, as if they had been dipped in blood or coated in poison.
"She's gotten smarter," he said, his voice low and husky with a hint of amusement. "Instead of pressuring us Beast Husbands, she went to the Queen."
Leng Qingfeng was taken aback. "Are you saying the Queen is paying her debt?"
"She couldn't afford it even in sixty installments."
Night Abyss slowly and deliberately removed his gloves, revealing pale, slender fingers.
With a light swipe of his vivid red Poison Armor, the potted plant on his desk instantly withered and turned to ash.
He lowered his gaze and smiled, his face so handsome it was almost demonic, and in that moment, breathtakingly beautiful.
Like a blooming Mandala—vibrant, deadly, yet impossible to look away from.
"I was planning to send her on her way sooner."
Venom dripped from his fingertips, corroding small holes in the floor. "It seems I'll have to wait a few more months."
Leng Qingfeng lowered his head slightly, a cold glint in his dark green, slitted pupils. "My lord, do you need me to file a complaint with the Royal Deacon Hall?"
'Anyone who dares obstruct Lord Night Abyss's orders should pay the price, even the Royal Family.'
"No need."
Night Abyss nonchalantly put on his black leather gloves. With a flick of his finger, the withered ball of leaves was precisely tossed into the trash can.
The corner of his lips lifted into a smile that was both dangerous and captivating.
"The Su An'an of today is rather more interesting than before."
"I don't mind playing with her a little longer."
He looked up, his crimson pupils like poisoned gems. "Sending her on her way a little later is fine, too."
"Yes, sir."
Leng Qingfeng bowed and had just turned to leave.
"Go on and try it."
Night Abyss's voice was dark and slow, slithering into his ear like a snake's hiss.
"If the soothing fails."
He tapped his fingertips on the desk, venom spreading silently across its surface. "I will destroy 'Beastman Soothing'."
Leng Qingfeng's body went rigid. A stinging sensation shot up to his nose, and his eyes reddened uncontrollably.
'Lord Night Abyss... he even knew about him accepting the soothing session.'
He clenched his jaw, a dark flame igniting in his slitted pupils.
'If this soothing session doesn't allow me to remain by Lord Night Abyss's side...'
'...he wouldn't mind tearing the entire livestreaming section apart with his own hands!'
「Interstellar Douyin Headquarters, 'Beastman Soothing' Conference Room」
Three contracts glittered on the holographic Light Screen.
Noland, sporting the dark circles of someone who hadn't slept in three days, was so excited his fox tail was wagging wildly.
"Lei Ya, Cedric, and Leng Qingfeng all signed!"
"Saturday at eight, I want the entire Star Network to see the promo for the new streamer's 1v3!"
BANG!
Nick slammed his fist into the conference table, leaving a dent. "Are you fucking crazy?! Does the big boss know you're pulling a stunt like this?!"
Noland threw down Fei Zhao's encrypted approval. "As a matter of fact, the big boss did approve it."
He narrowed his bloodshot fox eyes. "If this blows up in my face, I'll resign to atone for it!"
"Resign?"
Nick grinned, his fangs glinting. "In that case, you have my full support!"
"Meeting adjourned!"
Noland returned to his office and couldn't wait to send a message to Jiu Su.
*Your Excellency, everything is ready. We're just waiting for you to go live on Saturday.*
Su An'an: *Get the fireworks ready.*
*Let them bloom for my performance.*