Chapter 397: Discipline
Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Discipline
It had been over ten days since Ning Xuan returned to the Central Star. After this period of recuperation, her injuries were completely healed. Through her research during this time, she had improved the pollution-clearing medicine several times, finally developing a universal version that could target the vast majority of contaminants.
Ning Xuan sent the newly created universal pollution-clearing medicine to the front-line hospitals. She believed it wouldn’t be long before clinical data came back, and she was eagerly awaiting the results.
"Nine-tailed greets you, Master." Just as Ning Xuan reached the dining room, she saw Nine-tailed kneeling at the entrance.
"Rise. Why are you here? Is there something you need to report?" Ning Xuan walked past Nine-tailed without pausing, entering the dining room directly. She found her seat and sat down. Yu Mingche, who followed her, sat beside her, while Di Youlin sat meekly on her other side.
Di Youlin had returned on the sixth day of Ning Xuan’s own return to the Central Star, claiming he was back on leave.
Nine-tailed gestured to the Attendant standing outside the door, who immediately went to the kitchen to have the dishes served.
Nine-tailed followed Ning Xuan into the dining room. Once she was seated, he stood beside her and Yu Mingche, setting out their tableware. "Master, Chairman Lan from the Half-beastman Association came into the villa, using a visit to me as an excuse. I told him to leave, but he refused, saying he wished to call on you. I was worried he might cause a disturbance and bother you, so I came to report it." Nine-tailed quickly relayed the matter.
"Hmph. They think just because Lan Xin earned some merits, they get to ride his coattails." Before Ning Xuan could say anything, Yu Mingche voiced his displeasure.
Hearing the displeasure in Yu Mingche’s voice, Nine-tailed silently knelt to await orders. Although he had never served his master in bed, he and Lan Xin enjoyed the same status in the residence. They were considered the master’s personal attendants and fell under the direct management of Lord Yu.
Ning Xuan patted Yu Mingche’s hand, signaling for him not to be angry.
She then said, "Since he’s already here, go and tell him he can meet me in the drawing-room after dinner." Ning Xuan’s tone with Nine-tailed was gentle. Chairman Lan was the head of the Half-beastman Association, after all; she would grant this as a favor to Nine-tailed and Lan Xin.
With Ning Xuan’s guidance, coupled with his own talent and interest, Nine-tailed’s cooking skills had reached a master level. He had extensively researched all the various dishes Ning Xuan had once described to him.
Ning Xuan watched as the dishes were brought to the table one after another. Each one was a feast for the senses—perfect in color, aroma, and flavor, and utterly tempting.
When Ning Xuan saw the desserts shaped like a Little Fox and a little tiger, she was delighted. ’It really is good to be home,’ she thought with a sigh.
After dinner, Ning Xuan and Yu Mingche went for a walk in the small garden outside. The sunset’s afterglow bathed the garden in a golden light. Just as Ning Xuan was about to head to the drawing-room, an Attendant arrived to announce that Lan Xin had returned.
The sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from nearby.
Ning Xuan looked up to see a squad of guards in silver-gray uniforms marching toward them along the gravel path. The metal soles of their boots struck the ground with a crisp, rhythmic sound.
The man in the lead was half a head taller than the others. Even from over a dozen paces away, his palpable, murderous aura was overwhelming. He wore custom-made golden light armor, its plates engraved with intricate patterns that rippled like water in the sunset.
Lan Xin’s features were very distinctive. He had deep, sapphire-blue eyes and a fine, sharply defined jawline. A new, not-yet-fully-healed scar now traced his brow, but it did nothing to diminish his handsome features. Instead, it added a sharp, fierce edge forged on the battlefield.
The squad came to a halt in perfect unison five meters from Ning Xuan. Lan Xin raised his hand, and his retinue froze. He then strode forward, placed his right fist over his heart, and dropped to one knee before Ning Xuan. "Your servant, Lan Xin, greets you, Master. I greet you as well, Lord Yu."
"Why have you returned?" Ning Xuan asked. "Is the fighting over? Are your wounds completely healed?"
"Answering Master, they are completely healed thanks to your treatment. I have not had leave in a year, and having earned merit this time, General Ying approved a month-long leave for me." Lan Xin lifted his head, his eyes shining brightly as he gazed at Ning Xuan.
"Oh, so you’re back on leave. You must be tired from your journey. Go to your courtyard and get some rest." Ning Xuan waved her hand.
"Xuanyuan, Lan Xin dares appear before his Contractor still clad in armor and reeking of blood. This is an act of disrespect toward you." Yu Mingche glared at Lan Xin.
Ning Xuan glanced from Lan Xin to Yu Mingche, about to speak, but Yu Mingche bowed to her. "Contractor, allow me to teach him the rules."
Ning Xuan gave Lan Xin a troubled look and nodded. Yu Mingche’s situation was unique at the moment; for the past ten-odd days, Ning Xuan had been indulging his every whim, terrified of upsetting him in any way.
"Linran, strip off his armor, drag him into the courtyard, and give him thirty strokes," Yu Mingche ordered Feng Linran as soon as Ning Xuan was gone.
Lan Xin allowed the household Attendants to strip off his armor. His own retinue exchanged dismayed glances, until the squad captain stepped forward to quietly ask Lan Xin if they should intervene.
Lan Xin shook his head, ordering them not to make a move. He knew Yu Mingche was doing this to put him in his place—finding a deliberate excuse to knock him down a peg and remind him of his origins.
Lan Xin felt no dissatisfaction with this treatment. No matter how great his accomplishments or how high he climbed, it could never change the fact that he was Ning Xuan’s slave.
Thus, when Nine-tailed led Chairman Lan to the drawing-room to meet Ning Xuan, they saw a tall man in white underclothes being held down on a bench and beaten. His white clothes were stained red with blood. The dull thud of the paddle on flesh and the man’s occasional, stifled groan made for a startling sight that drew the eye.
"Who is that? Do you know what he did wrong? Are you beaten often, too?" Chairman Lan asked Nine-tailed curiously.
Nine-tailed had recognized the man with a single glance. He didn’t know what mistake Lan Xin had committed to be punished by Lord Yu the moment he returned.
"That’s Lan Xin, Chairman. Don’t you recognize him?" Nine-tailed asked, puzzled.
"Who did you say that was?" Chairman Lan’s voice shot up an octave. He immediately broke into a sprint and ran toward the scene.
Prompted by Nine-tailed, Chairman Lan recognized him instantly. It really was Lan Xin. He seemed to have grown much taller and his entire demeanor was different, but it was undoubtedly him.
"Stop! All of you, stop! General Lan is an Admiral decorated by the Military Department! How dare you strike him?" Chairman Lan lunged forward, trying to snatch away the paddle.
Lan Xin had nearly endured all thirty strokes when the interruption occurred. He was furious. Lifting his head, he glared to the side, signaling his men to drag the troublemaker away before he interfered any further.
At that moment, Nine-tailed came to his senses as well and rushed to pull Chairman Lan away.