Chapter 396: Visiting Nine-tailed
Chapter 396: Chapter 396: Visiting Nine-tailed
Ning Xuan frowned, asking Yu Mingche, "Didn’t you have them edit me out of the footage?"
Back during the Alchemist Competition, Ying Yaoshi had instructed Yan Fuzhen to protect Ning Xuan’s identity and prevent her image from leaking. Later, after Yu Mingche arrived at Ning Xuan’s side, he had also handled any reports that might have exposed her appearance.
"I’m very sorry, Contractor. When the military’s propaganda department received the video, they were about to report on the large-scale campaign to the public. All the surviving footage from the other fronts showed human forces being defeated with heavy casualties. If that got out, it would have undoubtedly hurt public morale and affected the next round of recruitment."
"Only Lan Xin’s battle was intense and evenly matched, and he won in the end. So, they unanimously decided to post the video on the Star Network."
"At the same time, the Life Research Institute received the active genetic material from the Half-Metamorphosis Stage, SSS-level Starry Sky Beast that Lan Xin submitted. The Institute, which has always been aloof and mysterious, reposted the video on its official website. After that, it went viral, and not even General Ying could have it taken down."
Yu Mingche had already pieced together the entire sequence of events. It was, he could only conclude, a perfect storm—and completely unavoidable.
After listening to Yu Mingche’s explanation, Ning Xuan didn’t dwell on it. The video’s main subjects were the Starry Sky Beast and Lan Xin, and there weren’t many shots of her. Someone who had met her before might recognize her with a bit of guesswork, but it would be impossible for a stranger to make out her features from such a blurry image.
Of course, that only applied to ordinary people. She couldn’t rule out the possibility that some individuals had special abilities.
Ning Xuan watched the video of Lan Xin’s interview. His face was unnaturally pale, and he kept frowning. When he stood up to leave, his legs grew so weak that he nearly fell. Scrolling comments flashed across the screen, most of them expressing sympathy for Lan Xin’s injuries. It was obvious he was in severe pain yet still had to be dragged out for an interview, which wasn’t easy on him. Some commenters asked who Lan Xin’s Contractor was, urging them to hurry and heal Admiral Lan. After all, with General Lan being so powerful, his Contractor must have had some insane luck. They were sure to ride his coattails straight to the top.
When Yu Mingche saw those comments, his face went pale with anger, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fists. CRACK. Too bad the video wasn’t a live stream, so he couldn’t add his own comments. Otherwise, Yu Mingche would have absolutely ripped into those people. ’What do they mean his Contractor got lucky? It’s clearly Lan Xin who hit the jackpot! If Ning Xuan hadn’t formed a contract with him, would he have even had the chance to go to the front lines? This time, if Ning Xuan hadn’t saved him, would he have even made it off the battlefield alive?’
Ning Xuan, however, wasn’t bothered by the comments. The military was intentionally building momentum for the autumn recruitment drive and using Lan Xin as a promotional figure. It was only natural for the general public on the Star Network, influenced by this atmosphere, to idolize him.
After returning to Central Star, Ning Xuan used "recovering from injuries" as an excuse to refuse visitors, turning most of them away at the door. However, some social obligations were impossible to refuse. For example, a certain Chairman Lan from the Half-beastman Association used the pretext of "visiting a junior member of his clan" to get into Ning Xuan’s villa.
Chairman Lan watched as Jiuwei methodically kneaded a ball of dough. The once lumpy, uneven mass quickly grew smooth under his hands.
Fine grains like Mai Mi were a luxury that very few people could afford, even on a world like Central Star, where the rich and powerful gathered.
The kitchen was filled with the sweet, rich aroma of cream and vanilla. This was clearly no ordinary dough Jiuwei was kneading; more expensive ingredients had been added.
"Little Nine, just look at you," Chairman Lan said, his expression one of pure disappointment. "You always seemed gentler and more pleasant than Lan Xin, and you’re certainly handsome enough. I thought you’d amount to something, but how have you made no progress at all? That Lan Xin has already been awarded the General Rank, and you’re not the least bit anxious? Do you even know why you’re here?"
Behind Chairman Lan stood two handsome young men, one of whom was Lan Xin’s paternal half-brother.
The two youths looked around the kitchen with curiosity. It was very large, with several Attendants bustling about inside. They all followed Jiuwei’s directions, and their attitude toward him was very respectful.
"Of course, I do. We’re all here to serve our master," Jiuwei said, his hands never ceasing their work. "Uncle Lan, Lan Xin and I are both very grateful to you. Thank you for using your connection with Chairman Wang to assign us to such a good master."
Jiuwei’s long, slender fingers were incredibly deft. He had already divided the dough into small pieces, each of which he was pinching into an intricate shape.
Chairman Lan noticed he was shaping a Little Fox. With a light flick of his fingertip, one of the Little Fox’s ears sprang to life. He used a bamboo skewer to meticulously etch the texture of its fur, each line carved to the perfect depth, making it seem as if the downy fuzz would tremble in the breeze at any moment.
Finally, he dabbed a tiny amount of edible gold dust onto the spot for the eyes, and the fox’s cunning gaze instantly sprang to life.
"You were trained at the underground Training Institute. Did they teach you this sort of craft there?" Chairman Lan asked, his gaze sweeping over the lifelike pastries.
He reached out to poke the pastry shaped like a White Tiger, but Jiuwei slapped his hand away without a second thought. "Don’t touch."
"The Training Institute only teaches etiquette. Our master is the one who guided me in these skills. She likes cute things, especially the little animal-shaped pastries I make. It makes her happy to see them." As Jiuwei thought of Ning Xuan, his eyes filled with a warm, gentle smile.
Jiuwei paid no mind to Chairman Lan’s comments about him being a failure, completely absorbed in his own world.
"Jiuwei, sir," a young Attendant said as he approached. "The menu you created has been prepared. The Family Head will be dining in five minutes. Please come and do a final inspection."
"Uncle Lan, you said you came to visit me, and you have," Jiuwei said, tactfully hinting that it was time to leave. "Our master is about to dine. Perhaps you should be heading back now?"
Hearing this, Chairman Lan’s face broke into a wide smile. "Jiuwei, since we’re already here, how could we leave without paying our respects to your master? I must thank Miss Ning in person for her patronage of Lan Xin. Lan Yu, Qing Jiu, quickly now! You’ll help serve the dishes in a moment."
Chairman Lan had originally intended to visit under the pretext of calling on Ning Xuan, but he had been rejected. It was Lan Yu who suggested using a different excuse—saying they were there to see Jiuwei. To their surprise, they were allowed in, only to be led directly to the kitchen to meet him.
Chairman Lan didn’t seem to consider whether his maneuvering would cause trouble for Jiuwei. Jiuwei sighed. He couldn’t just kick him out, so he could only ask him to wait there while he went to report the matter to his master.