Chapter 387: Awkward
Chapter 387: Chapter 387: Awkward
Lan Xin might have been a bit slow when it came to emotions, but his perception was quite sharp. After Ning Xuan finished speaking, he could feel the suppressed anger simmering beneath her calm exterior.
He hadn’t served by his master’s side for over a year and had somewhat forgotten her temper. It was only then that he suddenly realized he’d said the wrong thing.
For the past year, Lan Xin had been away commanding troops as a marshal. Every decision he made determined the lives of countless soldiers and the course of the war. Each choice was the result of weighing all pros and cons; the battlefield was ever-changing, requiring him to make the best possible decision in the shortest amount of time.
Lan Xin’s long, slender fingers deftly undid the golden buttons of his military uniform. He removed his jacket, folded it neatly, and placed it on the ground beside him. "Master, please quell your anger. This slave knows his station is humble and dares not hope for your affection. I only wish to be a sharp blade in your hand, to conquer new lands for you. To that end, this slave has not dared to slack off for even a moment."
Ning Xuan gazed at Lan Xin’s bare torso. His collarbones were exquisite, and the lines of muscle across his shoulders and back were captivating. His abdominal muscles were clearly defined, and his lean waist looked powerful. He even had a pair of distinct back dimples.
"What happened? Where did you get these scars?" Ning Xuan asked, tracing the crisscrossing marks on Lan Xin’s back. Though the scars had faded considerably, their width hinted at how gruesome they must have once been.
"Reporting to Master, they’re from being punished under military law for violating regulations," Lan Xin replied. He felt his muscles tremble at her touch, a fiery sensation reawakening within him.
Ning Xuan reached out and lifted Lan Xin’s chin. "What regulation could you have possibly violated to be beaten like this? Who did it?" she demanded, her mind racing with displeasure. ’When Lan Xin was with me, he was always so obedient. I never once laid a hand on him. How could he have received such a vicious beating in the army?’
’He had been beaten so brutally. Judging by the varying depths of the marks, it couldn’t have been from a single incident. Someone must have been sabotaging him.’
’Poor Lan Xin... Just how much has he suffered this past year?’
Ning Xuan resolved to question him thoroughly and get justice for Lan Xin.
"Master, it was General Ying," Lan Xin answered, though he didn’t specify which regulation he had violated.
When Ning Xuan heard it was Ying Yaoshi, her angry expression suddenly softened. "Ying Yaoshi, you say? Oh, alright then. You can get up."
Ning Xuan patted Lan Xin on the shoulder, but he let out a muffled groan. Only then did she notice his normally fair skin was now flushed a faint pink, and potent pheromones were radiating from his body.
Ning Xuan watched as the skin on his shoulders, back, and face visibly reddened. Lan Xin felt his heart about to pound out of his chest as his blood grew hotter. He boldly stepped forward and embraced her. "Master... you’ve triggered my heat."
Over the past year, Lan Xin had been using a special method to suppress his heats so he could serve in the army. A side effect of this suppression was the dampening of his natural emotions. As a result, his feelings for Ning Xuan had been purely those of submission. Now, however, things were clearly different.
Seeing such a drastic change in Lan Xin in such a short time, and connecting it with his personal circumstances, Ning Xuan began to understand his earlier actions.
And while Ning Xuan was beginning to understand him, it didn’t completely quell her anger. As a result, Lan Xin did not have an easy night.
The next day, Zhou Shi stared in confusion at the stone-faced General Lan. "General, what happened to your face? Did you fall? No, that doesn’t look like..."
"Zhou Shi, go stand guard at the monitoring center by the observation deck. You’ll be relieved in two days," Lan Xin commanded, his face cold. "Do you hear me? Now get going."
"Yes, sir." Zhou Shi saluted and trudged dejectedly toward the monitoring center.
’He had planned on staying near Miss Ning for the next few days, but now he’d been packed off to the observation deck.’
’General Lan was being so petty. He knew perfectly well that Miss Ning was the General’s Contractor. He had absolutely no ulterior motives; he just wanted to express his gratitude to her for saving his life!’
Lan Xin had just arrived at the training grounds for daily drills when a communications soldier ran up to him. He reported that Lan Jingchen had gone to his residence and was demanding to see the General’s Contractor.
When the guards at the gate asked what she wanted, she’d actually announced she was there to challenge the General’s Contractor.
Lan Xin could hardly believe it. He had seen Ning Xuan’s combat prowess firsthand. ’For someone like Lan Jingchen to dare challenge her... she truly doesn’t know her own limits.’
"Zhao Peng, go get rid of Lan Jingchen," Lan Xin ordered, pointing to one of his officers.
"Yes, General! But... how should I get rid of her? What if she refuses to leave?" Zhao Peng was tall and powerfully built, with dark skin and a ferocious face that made him look like an iron tower.
"Get a few men, pick her up, and throw her out," Lan Xin said coldly.
After Lan Xin had gotten up and left, Ning Xuan was still asleep.
A commotion outside woke Ning Xuan. She slowly sat up, stretched, and climbed out of bed, her eyes still heavy with sleep. Lan Xin had changed her into a set of loungewear, and she casually threw a trench coat over it before heading out.
"What’s all this noise so early in the morning?" Ning Xuan’s voice was heavy with sleep.
"You must be Lan Xin’s Contractor," Lan Jingchen said, a deep jealousy rising within her as she took in Ning Xuan’s flawless skin and youthful face. "I am formally challenging you. According to the regulations, if you lose, Lan Xin will belong to me."
Ning Xuan was stunned for a second, then her brow furrowed. "For a Half-beastman slave to change Contractors, the Half-beastman must first submit an application to the Association. The prospective Contractor then contacts the current one to issue a challenge. That’s the proper procedure. What’s the point of you showing up here to challenge me on your own?"
After all, Ning Xuan had two Half-beastman contracted slaves, so she was naturally familiar with the procedures for transferring ownership.
"Once I defeat you, Lan Xin will naturally realize that I am the Contractor worthy of his devotion. I will then accompany him to submit the application. You don’t need to worry about any of that." As she spoke, Lan Jingchen drew her weapon—a long, slender sword.
"Sister Lan, please, come with me!" Le Ling had rushed over as soon as she heard Lan Jingchen was looking for Ning Xuan, and was now trying to pull her away.
"No! I’m not leaving! I’m serious," Lan Jingchen insisted, her gaze fixed stubbornly on Ning Xuan. "I’m not going anywhere until we’ve settled this."
"Sister Lan," Le Ling asked tentatively, "have you never seen the videos or interviews from the early rounds of the Alchemy Competition? Don’t you know who the champion of the last one was?"