The spacecraft was so smooth it was almost unreal, and Xiang Lie couldn't even remember when he had fallen asleep.
All he knew was that after the overwhelming fatigue surging from the depths of his soul had completely engulfed him, the mental strain and physical exhaustion of the past few days had finally caused him to let down all his defenses.
He had a dream.
In the dream, he returned to the abandoned cement factory. Mo was still that timid young girl. She hadn't transformed into a long gun; she simply gazed at him with adoring eyes, earnestly studying the mysteries of the "Throne." Beside her stood a dozen or so identical silver-haired girls, lined up in neat formation, chanting in unison: "Coach! We want to train our trapezius muscles!"
The scene was sacred and solemn.
"Mr. Xiang, we've arrived."
A gentle voice awakened Xiang Lie from his beautiful dream.
He suddenly opened his eyes and found that the spacecraft had come to a stop. Mr. Yi was standing before him, his face still adorned with that impeccably gentle smile.
The cabin door slid open silently.
A mix of metal, earth, and the fresh scent of some plant filled the air. Before his eyes was an enormous underground space beyond imagination.
The light here was not bright, but soft beams filtered through the cracks in the dome and walls, illuminating the interconnected metal corridors and complex architectural structures. In the distance, there seemed to be a sizable indoor plantation, lush with greenery.
This place resembled a futuristic city hidden deep within the Earth's core, quiet and orderly, forming a stark contrast to the chaotic wasteland above the surface.
"Wow..."
Xiang Lie carried Mo, who was still unconscious, as he stepped off the spacecraft. His feet touched the solid metal floor, and the unease he had felt due to the unknown began to fade slightly.
"Ling Sister! You're back!"
At that moment, a crisp, bell-like shout echoed through the air.
From the corner of the corridor ahead, five or six silver-haired heads peeked out. Several girls, who appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old, immediately ran toward Ling, who was seated in a wheelchair, and surrounded her with excitement.
Like Mo, they all had moonlight-silver hair and translucent silver eyelashes, their features so delicate they seemed like fairies stepped out of a painting. Like Mo, they all had moonlight-silver hair and translucent silver eyelashes, their features so delicate they seemed like fairies stepped out of a painting.
Xiang Lie stared at the chattering group of girls before him, momentarily speechless.
Their curious gazes fell unabashedly on him, the unfamiliar giant, and the unconscious Mo in his arms.
"Sister Ling, what's wrong with Sister Mo? Is she injured?" The youngest girl pulled on Ling's wheelchair handle, tilting her little face upward, and asked worriedly.
"It's nothing, she just overexerted herself. She'll be fine after a good sleep." Ling's tone was unusually gentle, but she quickly returned to her impatient demeanor, waving her hand at them. "Go on, go on, don't crowd around."
"Oh..." The girls obediently scattered a bit, but one of the bolder ones blinked her big eyes, looking at Ling expectantly, and asked softly, "Then... Ling Sister, did you bring back 'food' this time?"
Food?
Xiang Lie keenly caught the word. He recalled Mo's intense aversion to protein powder and the moment she bit into his shoulder.
"I know, I know, you're all little gluttons!" Ling complained, but her actions spoke louder than her words. She reached into a small bag on the side of the wheelchair and pulled out a small packet of vacuum-sealed dried meat, handing it over.
The girls let out a suppressed cheer, took the bag of jerky that didn't look like much, and ran off happily as if they had found a treasure.
Just then, a silver-haired woman in her twenties with a calm demeanor walked over. She was wearing a long coat similar to a lab coat, her expression gentle yet professional.
She didn't ask any questions, but walked up to Xiang Lie, nodded at him kindly and gratefully, then carefully took the unconscious Mo from his arms. Her movements were extremely gentle, as if she were handling a priceless treasure.
Xiang Lie's arms, which had grown stiff from holding Mo, were finally freed. He unconsciously moved his shoulders, but his gaze couldn't help but follow the figures of those silver-haired girls.
Tall, petite, lively, quiet... each one was beautiful in her own way, yet they all shared an otherworldly, ethereal quality.
He felt as though he had stumbled into the legendary Kingdom of Women, but in a silver-haired, fair-skinned version.
Xiang Lie was so engrossed in watching them that he didn't notice until a cold, disdainful remark poured over him like a bucket of cold water.
"Hey, big guy, you're drooling, you know?"
It was Ling. She had somehow maneuvered her wheelchair over to his side, arms crossed, tilting her head, giving him a "you're so embarrassing" look.
"Huh?" Xiang Lie snapped back to reality, instinctively wiping his lips.
It was dry.
But his face flushed even redder than before, all the way down to his neck, blending seamlessly with his imposing "throne."
It's over.
He inwardly groaned, feeling the invisible "pervert" label on his forehead being reinforced with industrial-strength glue, impossible to peel off.
"Ling, stop teasing him."
Mr. Yi chuckled lightly, stepping in at just the right moment to break the tension. He spoke to Xiang Lie in a gentle tone, "Mr. Xiang, let's discuss this over here."
Xiang Lie felt as though he had been granted a pardon, nodding hurriedly and following Mr. Yi as though escaping.
They walked through several bright metal corridors.
Xiang Lie noticed that while the facilities here exuded a futuristic technological vibe, they also had a strong sense of everyday life.
As they passed a room that resembled a classroom, he saw several silver-haired girls sitting in a circle, intently studying an old paperback book.
In another room, a girl was wiping down some mechanical parts he didn't recognize.
This place didn't feel like a military base; it felt more like... a special girls' academy.
Soon, Mr. Yi led him into a quiet little room.
The room was small and sparsely furnished. There was a metal table, two chairs, and a large porthole window offering a view of the indoor garden in the distance.
Mr. Yi poured him a glass of water and broke the silence.
He composed his expression, his gaze growing serious as he locked eyes with Xiang Lie.
"Mr. Xiang, on behalf of the 'Ark,' I formally invite you to join us."
Mr. Yi's voice was clear and solemn, echoing through the quiet room.
However, as he uttered the invitation, his gaze drifted subtly toward Xiang Lie's broad right shoulder. More precisely, it drifted toward the majestic trapezius muscle that had once been bitten by ink and now rose and fell slightly with his breathing.
That gaze did not seem to be looking at a muscle; it was more like examining a rare treasure, filled with awe, curiosity, and a hint of... fanaticism.
Xiang Lie was simple-minded but not dull.
Following Mr. Yi's gaze, he instinctively touched his right shoulder "throne."
The skin there was smooth, the muscle full—not a wound, not even a tooth mark remained.
But the other man's intense gaze made him feel uneasy, as if his "A-You" were being scrutinized under a microscope by a deranged scientist.
Noticing the wariness in Xiang Lie's eyes, Mr. Yi seemed to realize his own indiscretion.
"Ah, I'm sorry," he withdrew his gaze, smiling apologetically, trying to hide his emotions.
"I was just... too curious," he chose his words carefully, but couldn't resist asking, his tone filled with curiosity, "Your wound... seems to have healed completely?"