As dusk fell, the sound of orderly footsteps echoed from outside.
The mission that was originally planned to take half a month was completed in just one day. Because they possessed memories and knew the plot and objectives, Lin Zhi had already investigated the situation here in advance and contacted the local administrators to hand over the follow-up tasks.
They had stormed the enemy's stronghold in one swift assault. Well-trained and well-equipped, and catching the enemy completely off guard, they directly captured their important leaders. After dealing with many surrendering subordinates and handing them over to the local authorities, they withdrew.
Having just achieved a victory, they were all in high spirits without a hint of fatigue.
Jiang Youbai stood among them, his body tense, holding his weapon in a standard posture. There was a scratch on his face—a wound he received while subduing an enemy. The blood seeping from it only made his features more captivating.
His eyes still held a lingering bloodlust and excitement as he stood in formation, staring intently at Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan cupped her face in her hands and remarked to Lin Zhi, who was standing beside her, "Look at you, so charming in your youth."
Lin Zhi glanced at her languidly, "Am I old now?"
Jiang Yan chuckled sheepishly, "They're playing a more thrilling game."
Lin Zhi flexed his wrists, wanting to do something but afraid that his two younger, more impulsive selves might cause a commotion. He let out a derisive laugh and gave up the idea.
Finally, he said airily to Jiang Yan, "You can just lie in bed and watch the stars later."
...
In the evening, Jiang Yan went to hang out with Qin Zhen.
Qin Zhen was packing her things and didn't stand on ceremony with Jiang Yan, directly telling her to sit on the bed.
As she packed, she listened to Jiang Yan's mumbling chatter.
Tired of talking, Jiang Yan lazily lay on Qin Zhen's bed, staring into space. Suddenly, she posed a hypothetical question, "If I were to die protecting you, how would you feel?"
Qin Zhen's movements abruptly halted. She frowned deeply, then continued packing. Her voice remained as even as ever, "That won't happen. There's no such possibility. I won't let us be in that kind of danger."
Jiang Yan thought about it and realized she was right.
The beautiful Qin Zhen had always been a strong, capable woman with formidable abilities.
Jiang Yan responded seriously, "Me too." Although in each of her identities, she seemed insignificant in the face of the system's vast power. But she had always been striving to break free from its constraints.
Qin Zhen didn't fully understand, but she trusted Jiang Yan without reason. It was an instinct that seemed etched into her soul.
...
Planet Elwin had long been in a state of primitive backwardness, which was why it attracted such vicious criminals. However, compared to the formal military forces, there was still a significant gap between them. This was why Lin Zhi was able to deal with them so quickly.
It was also because of this remote and backward nature that the place became a target for the Insect Queen to nest. There were no significant military forces here, only a group of incompetent thugs who could be dealt with easily.
The insects hadn't expected to run into the Alpha combat team that had come to clean up the criminals.
The insects were protecting their Queen as she descended onto this desolate planet—too backward for humans, but just right for them.
Hidden in the darkness, the concealed spaceship issued a series of commands as Lin Zhi secretly monitored the insects' trajectory.