Chapter Twenty-Four: Don't Tell Me You've Fallen for Her?

"Where did you find that masked girl?" After a good night's sleep and feeling refreshed, Kuang Shao climbed up and immediately began pestering Zhan Yu with questions.

Zhan Yu, staring at the star map before him, ignored him. This was already the third time Kuang Shao had asked that question—was it really so interesting? They would soon rendezvous with the others, and he needed to study the route back to the Imperial Capital carefully.

"Have you tried the potion yet?" Kuang Shao was completely unfazed by Zhan Yu's silence. If he couldn't even muster this much perseverance, would he still be Kuang Shao?

Zhan Yu glanced at him and asked, "How effective is it?"

"Incredible," Kuang Shao replied, enunciating each word. He had just received data from Kuang Chi and was astonished. Though he had already witnessed Kuang Chi's abilities, he never expected such results.

"Oh?" Zhan Yu set aside what he was holding and looked at him. "Does it match her description?"

Kuang Shao nodded seriously. "It’s even better than described. The data just came in—Kuang Chi had just entered level B. After drinking it, his increase was well over ten percent. It’s clearly meant for those at the peak of level B. Moreover, after Kuang Chi used it, the side effects were exactly as described, but you know the original description was for level D. For Kuang Chi, the aftereffects amounted to only fifteen minutes of mental fatigue, and three hours later he was fully recovered. So far, there is no evidence of any other side effects!"

A trace of surprise flickered in Zhan Yu's eyes. He understood perfectly how significant a ten percent boost would be for a level B mental cultivator. And to have no lasting side effects—such temptation was simply too great.

"You didn’t know how valuable it was? Yet you insisted on buying it at all costs?" Kuang Shao was even more astonished. He knew just how thorough Zhan Yu could be. To buy something so decisively, without knowing all the facts, and to pay any price—he teased, "You haven’t fallen for her, have you?"

Zhan Yu’s heart gave a sudden jolt. Those deep blue eyes flashed before him, along with those small, fair hands.

Observing the sudden change in Zhan Yu’s expression, Kuang Shao stammered, "You—you really have fallen for her?"

Zhan Yu steadied himself. "What nonsense are you talking about? She’s just a girl."

Kuang Shao scoffed, thinking he must have misjudged. Zhan Yu had always kept a respectful distance from girls. Even that recent stint on the StarNet was just a one-time thing. Love at first sight? Hardly credible in this era. He simply didn’t believe it. Besides, with that icy exterior and repressed inner fire, it seemed even less likely.

"If she weren’t masked, she’d probably be quite pretty. Those eyes were so clear and bright," Kuang Shao mused, recalling those deep blue, wide, unblemished eyes with their earnest gaze.

Zhan Yu shot Kuang Shao a cold look, clearly displeased by his teasing.

Kuang Shao, surprised, glanced at Zhan Yu. This wasn’t his usual demeanor. "You haven’t even seen her face, have you? Yet you trust her so much?"

"Her eyes," Zhan Yu said. "Her gaze was sincere."

"Uh," Kuang Shao was taken aback. He too had noticed the sincerity in her eyes—it made you believe every word she spoke. "How did you meet her?"

"By chance," Zhan Yu replied, returning his attention to the map. "Don’t speak ill of her."

"Hmm?" Kuang Shao stared at him. Was he defending her?

"Put away your dirty thoughts. I’m giving you a friendly warning," Zhan Yu said without even looking—he could guess exactly what Kuang Shao was thinking.

"What’s the point of explaining? Explanation is just concealment, and concealment is admission," Kuang Shao laughed.

Zhan Yu’s lips curled slightly in amusement. He was offering genuine advice, yet Kuang Shao refused to listen—did he really expect to find a way to lift the freezing curse?

Kuang Shao shivered at Zhan Yu's smile and quickly changed the subject. "Do you think the volcano potion could actually be produced in reality?"

Zhan Yu didn’t respond. He had considered it himself. If this volcano potion could be manufactured in reality, it would cause an uproar. Rationally, he knew it was impossible, but whenever he recalled those deep blue eyes, he felt irrationally convinced that she could do it.

"You don’t really believe it, do you?" Kuang Shao raised an eyebrow. "I don’t know why, but I just feel she could. Ha, I must be losing my mind."

Zhan Yu shot Kuang Shao a rather unfriendly look. He was certainly not losing his mind.

"Perhaps the Federation really has grown rotten," Kuang Shao said, his tone unusually serious and gloomy.

Zhan Yu opened his mouth, and after a moment, said, "Only after decay can new life emerge."

Kuang Shao simply responded with a cold smile. He held none of Zhan Yu’s hope for the federal government; perhaps he had already despaired of the rotten Federation.

"We’re almost there," Zhan Yu said, knowing everything about Kuang Shao, and so had nothing comforting to say.

"You haven’t even returned to the Imperial Capital yet, and you’re already caught in the eye of the storm," Kuang Shao shook his head. He couldn’t avoid trouble, but Zhan Yu seemed to seek it out.

Zhan Yu glanced at him. "We’ll be in the Imperial Capital within ten days."

"Alright, I’ll be waiting. Stay safe."

Zhan Yu nodded, closed the communication, and fell silent for a long time. He saw Kuang Shao as brother, friend, and rival. Their experiences were nearly identical, but they had chosen different paths.

He had fulfilled his childhood dream by joining the military, while Kuang Shao broke into the world of mercenaries, where identity, privilege, and all he once had meant nothing, and only the law of the strong prevailed. Over three years, one fought desperately among mercenary ranks, while the other struggled in the Black Domain. They rarely kept in touch, but each understood the other.

Checking the time, Zhan Yu walked into the nearby control room.

"Have you contacted the Wanqi family fleet?" Zhan Yu asked Azuo, who stood beside him.

"It’s already connected, boss."

Zhan Yu glanced at the control panel. Wanqi Lianhao appeared. "Third Young Master Wanqi."

"No need for formalities, just call me by name," Wanqi Lianhao replied.

Zhan Yu nodded. "I’ll rendezvous with you in an hour."

Wanqi Lianhao glanced at Xuan Xuan, who sat obediently nearby, then nodded. "We’re ready on our end."

"Very well, let’s stay in touch. See you in an hour."

Wanqi Lianhao nodded.

The name sounded familiar, and the face even more so. Did he have any acquaintances here? Xuan checked again and again nearby.