DALOA CH27

Before being choked to death, Li Xiao gripped Song Jin’s hand and pulled it away with some force. He turned his face calmly toward Jiang Hao: “Didn’t I say I didn’t want to be disturbed?”

Jiang Hao looked deeply aggrieved: “I already told them, but Meng Tao and his group insisted on breaking in.”

Being named, Meng Tao met Li Xiao’s inquiring gaze and said indifferently: “He said you were so ill that you couldn’t even get out of bed to wash your hair, so we had to come in to check on your situation, right?”

“Talking about not being able to wash your hair for three days.” Zheng Lin scanned Li Xiao lazily, his face full of disappointment at not seeing a good show. “Doesn’t he look perfectly fine?”

The onlookers: “…”

Forget “perfectly fine”—the aesthetic quality of this ‘bedridden’ patient is still dangerously high.

Li Xiao’s peripheral vision caught the Danse school doctor who had followed them in, and he smiled helplessly: “Xiao Jin helped me wash it for the past two days, but it’s much better today.”

Song Jin: “…”

Don’t give me some random, nonsensical persona.

The crowd: “…?!”

Song Jin actually helped someone wash their hair?!

Meng Tao secretly signaled the school doctor to go over and examine him. Three days ago, Li Xiao had been tested by the military academy doctor, and Meng Tao had been very suspicious of the authenticity of that data, believing it was merely a pretext to deal with Qi Ge. Li Xiao was a deep-thinking, crafty individual; one could never lower their guard against him.

The alpha school doctor placed his instrument by the bed and reached out to open Li Xiao’s collar, only to be stopped by Song Jin. The doctor paused, smiling and explaining to Song Jin: “I need to test his pheromone stability, which requires sticking a test chip onto his gland.”

“Has this instrument been checked by the security department?” Seeing the doctor look over in confusion, Song Jin picked up the patch and examined it before his eyes. “I heard there’s a type of nano-poison needle that can kill a person in three seconds upon contact with the skin.”

The doctor’s expression stiffened, and he subconsciously glanced at Meng Tao: “I am a school doctor, not a killer. I’d be held responsible if a student died under my care.”

Song Jin raised his eyes to look at him, his tone languid: “Your life isn’t worth much; what could you possibly use to take responsibility?”

The doctor’s eyebrow twitched; the smile on his face completely collapsed: “I meant that it is impossible for me to harm him.”

Seeing this, Qian Can, while eating dessert, muttered softly: “Our military academy’s own school doctor already checked him, and then they called the Danse school doctor over—they don’t trust us? Who even notified them?”

“Let me check.” Qin Le logged into the student council management backend with his terminal. “The applicant is—Meng Tao?”

All the onlookers looked at Meng Tao with complex expressions. Qian Can was right; the doctors employed by the military academy were highly skilled. Why specifically call the Danse school doctor from the school, making it seem as if the military academy was mistreating them? That was truly underhanded.

“When Meng Tao broke into Li Xiao’s room just now, he was cursing so loudly,” someone in the crowd whispered.

“I heard it too. This isn’t ‘visiting a patient’; it’s more like a room inspection.”

“Meng Tao and Qi Ge are close; he’s just using Li Xiao’s illness as an excuse to make life difficult for him.”

“How excessive. If someone did that to me while I was sick, I’d beat them until they couldn’t take care of themselves.”

Hearing the whispering behind him, Meng Tao’s expression collapsed. Bearing the questioning gazes of everyone, he gritted his teeth and said: “That’s right, I applied for it! Is it wrong to care about a classmate?!”

Then, Meng Tao looked at Song Jin and yelled angrily: “You claim the school doctor is trying to harm Li Xiao—if you have evidence, show it! If you don’t have evidence, don’t spread rumors!”

“Did I say he was trying to harm Li Xiao?” Song Jin didn’t even look at him, instead snapping his fingers at Qian Can. “Go to the infirmary and apply for a set of equipment, and say it’s for the Danse school doctor to examine Li Xiao’s body.”

He emphasized the second half of the sentence, making the alpha school doctor and the Danse group, including Meng Tao, extremely embarrassed.

“Received! Be right back!” Qian Can ran off, laughing.

The alpha school doctor, having been pointlessly accused, spoke with irritation: “Student, the equipment is all the same; is it really necessary to change it?”

Song Jin: “The school doctors are all the same, so why was it necessary to specifically change one?”

The onlookers inwardly gave a thumbs-up. Refreshing! That’s how you stand your ground! Otherwise, these Danse people would be riding roughshod over them!

Since Song Jin appeared, his expression had remained grim. If the students weren’t so curious about Li Xiao’s condition, they wouldn’t have dared to get involved; they had been speaking in whispers for fear of offending him. But seeing him defend the honor of the academy, they suddenly felt that this unapproachable Song Jin was actually quite relatable.

Meng Tao’s face was ugly. He suddenly unleashed his frustration on the silent Li Xiao: “Li Xiao, I invited the school doctor out of kindness, and in his ears, it turned into an assassination attempt! You are also from Danse—are you just going to watch him bully us like this?!”

Everyone looked over immediately. Meng Tao’s question was malicious; if Li Xiao didn’t answer well, he might be labeled a traitor.

Li Xiao sipped the hot tea Jiang Hao had poured for him, thinking to himself: If I don’t watch, what else can I do? When the little golden lion put on a show of force, whoever rushed forward would be cannon fodder—he wasn’t stupid.

Before Li Xiao could speak, Qin Le explained gently: “Meng Tao, I think you’ve misunderstood. Song Jin didn’t mean to bully you. The military academy has rules: equipment that hasn’t been tested by the security department is not allowed to be used on students. This is to ensure the safety of all students.”

Meng Tao suppressed his anger: “Wasn’t it tested when we arrived at the military academy?”

Qin Le pressed: “Then was it tested when you arrived at the exam site?”

“What do you mean?!” Meng Tao glared at Qin Le. “Suspecting that our school doctor tampered with the equipment on the way?!”

Qin Le: “Apologies, rules are rules. If you have any questions about school regulations, you are welcome to come to the student council office at any time.”

As the two argued, Jiang Hao spoke up weakly to stop them: “Meng Tao, can you not be so loud? Big Brother is feeling unwell again.”

Everyone had been focused on the argument, but seeing Li Xiao pinching his forehead with a look of extreme discomfort, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Poor Boss Li—who did he offend? He’s sick and still being harassed by these people.

Meng Tao stopped abruptly. In front of so many students, he could only grind his teeth and swallow his rage.

“Meng Tao, I said before that a few days of rest would be fine. I really didn’t expect you to go to such great lengths to have the school doctor rush over. Thank you for your concern.”

Li Xiao turned his head to look at the alpha school doctor. “I am very confident in the professional ability of the military academy’s school doctors. However, since you are already here, let’s consider it a re-examination. Actually, I was planning on having Xiao Jin accompany me to the infirmary today, but since we are in the military academy, we must follow the rules, don’t you think?”

His words were flawless, leaving no room for anyone to find fault. The alpha school doctor could only nod stiffly: “You’re right.”

The lingering annoyance in the hearts of the students was completely soothed by Li Xiao’s words. See that? Boss Li loves our military academy! Unlike some people who treat us like thieves!

“Xiao Jin is being cautious out of concern for me. I don’t want to see someone I like being pointlessly scolded ever again.”

Li Xiao deliberately gripped Song Jin’s hand and looked at Meng Tao again, his tone much colder and harder than before. “Meng Tao, I treat you as a friend; I hope you can respect me too. There won’t be a next time for today’s incident.”

Meng Tao gritted his teeth: “What did you say?”

Li Xiao met his fierce gaze and said lightly: “Don’t let it happen again. Do you understand?”

With two alphas clashing in aura, Meng Tao was being utterly suppressed.

Everyone, including Qin Le, was shocked. Li Xiao actually warned Meng Tao for Song Jin’s sake?! Since coming to Shengya, hadn’t Li Xiao been polite to everyone? Previously, when Li Xiao was scolded by Meng Tao or slandered by Qi Ge, he had always let it go lightly. He had even been criticized on the forum by students for being too soft. He finally stood up for himself! It looks like Li Xiao and Song Jin might be for real?!

Song Jin secretly exerted effort to shake off Li Xiao’s hand. At an angle where no one could see, he gave Li Xiao a warning look: [Talking is one thing, don’t get handsy.]

Li Xiao held on and wouldn’t let go: [I cooperated with you just now; shouldn’t it be your turn to cooperate with me?]

Seeing he couldn’t break free, Song Jin simply slid his hand up the inside of Li Xiao’s wrist, taking liberties in public. Li Xiao clamped down on that wandering claw: […Don’t mess around.]

Not only did Song Jin not stop, he defiantly pinched the inside of his forearm.

Li Xiao: “…”

That hurts.

Meng Tao’s lungs were about to explode. Clearly, it was Song Jin who started the trouble, yet Li Xiao had turned the tables on him! If he tore off the mask with Li Xiao now, he wouldn’t be able to survive in the military academy. After weighing the pros and cons, Meng Tao glanced at Song Jin and said blandly: “Apologies for just now; I misinterpreted your good intentions.”

Song Jin smiled: “With your IQ, it’s normal that you can’t understand human language.”

The comment made the group at the door burst into laughter. Meng Tao’s hand at his side clenched tight; he nearly threw a punch.

Not long after, Qian Can and the medical department staff arrived with testing equipment. Under the staff’s requirements, the alpha school doctor had to change into a new gown and gloves, and perform additional sterilization before being allowed to operate. He felt incredibly uncomfortable. In this kind of defensive environment, how could I possibly find a chance to strike?!

The instrument was specifically for testing pheromone stability, and the report showed it was well within the normal range. Before Meng Tao and his group could open their mouths, Jiang Hao preemptively said: “Great! It’s already returned to a normal level; he’ll be fine in a couple of days!”

The word “returned” was highly suggestive. The students didn’t doubt the test results from three days ago at all, and they all looked relieved. However, the expressions on Meng Tao and Zheng Lin’s faces grew even sourer. Did it return to a normal level, or was it always normal? With no Danse doctor present when the incident occurred, they had no evidence to question Li Xiao; it was too late to pursue it now.

Meng Tao asked coldly: “Since you’re fine now, you can release Qi Ge, right?”

Qin Le took over: “He committed a serious violation of school rules. We are currently discussing with the relevant departments to have him deported in the near future.”

Meng Tao’s brow twitched: “He only accidentally released his pheromones and it happened that Li Xiao passed by and smelled it. Why is the punishment so heavy? Isn’t Li Xiao fine now?”

“Qi Ge didn’t do that ‘accidentally’,” someone among the students countered in a low voice. “If we don’t punish him severely this time, what if everyone else starts imitating him? Are we supposed to just live in fear?”

“Exactly.”

“It was clearly on purpose; only attack-form pheromones can hurt people.”

“Sophistry.”

Qin Le spoke at the right moment: “Regarding this matter, you can talk to me privately. Let’s not disturb the patient’s rest here.”

With that, Qin Le led the doctor out and dismissed all the onlookers. Da Bei, who hadn’t found a chance to speak, took the opportunity to approach the bedside: “Brother, you scared me to death. Are you really okay?”

Li Xiao: “I’m fine, don’t worry. I’m a bit sleepy, let me rest for a while.”

Seeing he was indeed exhausted, Da Bei left the room after confirming he was okay, then immediately turned around to write this into a code and send it back to the Danse Royal Palace.

T100, Danse Royal Palace.

Li Ji was listening to his chief assistant report the important events of the last two days.

Chief Assistant Lao Liu: “Councilor Qiu Yuefeng has been reported for accepting bribes; the case has already been submitted to the local court.”

Li Ji flipped through the documents without looking up: “Qiu Yuefeng? I recall he was quite close to Old Yi?”

The assistant nodded: “Qiu Yuefeng’s father and General Yi Yongning are good friends.”

Li Ji didn’t say anything further. The assistant continued with the report. Suddenly, the terminal vibrated, and his heart skipped a beat; he had a bad premonition and gave Li Ji a cautious look.

Li Ji: “Read it.”

Assistant: “…Yes.”

The assistant opened the message, and his eyes twitched as he saw the contents.

“Second Prince’s condition has improved.”

“Hmm.” Li Ji responded coldly, spinning his fountain pen between his fingers twice.

The assistant hesitated: “Meng Tao acted without authorization and brought the Danse school doctor to examine the Second Prince, which dissatisfied Shengya. Afterward, Meng Tao used the excuse that the Second Prince had recovered to publicly demand the release of Qi Ge.”

After he finished speaking, the office fell into a suffocating silence.

“Find someone to withhold the materials reporting Qiu Yuefeng, and also—” Li Ji picked up a teacup calmly. “Disobedient children should be sent home; it saves them from embarrassing themselves outside.”

The assistant’s eyes flashed, and he replied: “Yes.”

Li Ji took a sip of tea, put the cup down with a cold face, and stood up to leave the office. With a sharp, crisp sound, the teacup shattered, startling the assistant, who hurriedly grabbed a towel to wipe the soaked paperwork. The Emperor’s mind is becoming harder and harder to fathom.

Q303 Exam Site, Rest Cabin.

Song Jin, still concerned about the blood samples brought back, turned and left without even looking back at Li Xiao. The cabin was soon left with only Jiang Hao and Li Xiao.

Jiang Hao let out a sigh of relief: “It doesn’t matter that we broke with Meng Tao?”

“Mm.” Li Xiao threw off the quilt, stood up, and tidied his clothes. “From now on, we shouldn’t get too close to the Meng family.”

“Why?” Jiang Hao knew nothing about power circles.

“The situation has changed.”

Li Xiao fastened his cufflinks in a measured way. “Previously, no one fought the Meng family, but from now on, others will enter the arena. If I don’t withdraw now, I’ll be caught in the fallout.”

Jiang Hao was confused: “Who?”

Li Xiao didn’t answer directly, asking instead: “Suppose you have your favorite strawberries in your hand, and your classmate has your most hated rotten banana. The teacher says you must swap food in this lesson. What would you do?”

Jiang Hao: “Since it’s a requirement, I can only swap with him.”

Li Xiao: “What if the teacher said, ‘If you really don’t want to swap, you don’t have to’?”

“Then of course I wouldn’t swap.” After saying that, Jiang Hao suddenly understood.

“I” wanted to protect the strawberries, but the “classmate” wanted to swap for them. To compete for ownership of the strawberries, a dispute would inevitably arise.

Jiang Hao looked thoughtful: “Big Brother, you hate the ‘classmate,’ so you’re going to help ‘me’ hold onto the strawberries?”

Li Xiao laughed softly: “What do you think is the key to deciding the outcome of the dispute?”

Jiang Hao: “The power gap between ‘me’ and the ‘classmate’?”

Li Xiao shook his head: “It’s the teacher.”

Jiang Hao was startled.

“A single word from the teacher can change the situation.” Li Xiao picked up his jacket. “What I need to do now is make the teacher make a decision according to my expectations. However—”

Jiang Hao: “However?”

Li Xiao’s voice was very low: “This teacher is indecisive and has no firm position. Making him listen won’t be easy, and he’s too weak; he might not be able to beat the ‘classmate’.”

Jiang Hao: “…”

Li Xiao fastened the last button. Seeing Jiang Hao deep in thought, he asked casually: “Are you scared?”

Jiang Hao looked up at him with firm eyes: “I will study hard and strive to help you defeat the ‘classmate’ as soon as possible.”

Li Xiao: “Aim to pass the next monthly exam.”

Jiang Hao: “…”

Medical Area.

Song Jin stood before the glass of the observation room, watching two school doctors methodically test the blood samples brought back from N2533.

The dark guard, Chestnut, rushed over and handed him a pheromone report: “Qi Ge’s pheromone test report.”

Song Jin took it and turned directly to the pheromone profile page. Chestnut spread out the four previous test reports as well: “It’s almost identical to the profiles of these four exchange students.”

Song Jin: “Has it been compared against the Bique tribe database?”

More than a decade ago, the military secretly infiltrated the Bique town for an investigation and collected a significant amount of data on the Bique people.

“I applied for access.” Chestnut opened the database quickly. “The similarity with the Bique people’s pheromone curves is only 31%, and the similarity with a ‘Super-O’ is 46%.”

Song Jin flipped back and forth through dozens of virtual screens. Following the average person, the Super-O, and the Bique people, this was the fourth type of pheromone curve profile.

Chestnut: “The pheromone level of these four exchange students is B. Based on current data, it’s highly probable they also possess the ability to control others, though we don’t know if the control effect correlates with pheromone level.”

Song Jin organized his thoughts, then asked after a long while: “What about Li Xiao’s?”

Chestnut hurried to pull up Li Xiao’s report.

“His profile is different from Qi Ge’s, but his similarity to the Bique people reaches 95%.”

Song Jin stood up abruptly, laying all the screens flat before him to browse quickly. Because both Li Xiao and the five others, including Qi Ge, could see invisible equipment, Song Jin had once suspected they were all cyborgs. But pheromone profiles don’t lie.

Li Xiao has Bique blood? Song Jin suddenly remembered the Gold Rush competition on N2533 targeting the Bique tribe. So, was Li Xiao there for that reason?

An hour later, the first blood sample report came out of the lab. The young beta school doctor: “These eleven are all ordinary cow, sheep, and pig blood.”

Song Jin: “…”

Li Xiao’s crow mouth was actually right.

The blood samples taken from the large storage tank in the Qilin blood bank were all animal blood. Within the Rubik’s Cube, the blood flowing down the gold-feathered sparrow statue was also of this type.

Half an hour later, another blood sample report was delivered—this one was from Hu Jiang and the other ten people. Song Jin quickly slid to Li Xiao’s report, placing all eleven profiles together for comparison; they were almost perfectly overlapping.

Chestnut was confused: “Did we make a mistake? There are quite a few ethnicities in Danse with this type of profile; it’s not unique to the Bique tribe, is it?”

Song Jin shook his head with a dark face: “No, they are Bique.”

Participating in the Gold Rush competition targeting the Bique, reaching the final round unscathed, his anger upon seeing the statue contaminated, and a profile identical to the Bique people. All signs indicated that Hu Jiang’s group were Bique tribe members. Song Jin recalled Hu Jiang’s reaction to Li Xiao’s name—that “protect yourself well” was incredibly intriguing.

The deeper he dug, the more puzzles there were, and the problems just kept coming.

“Boss!” The beta school doctor ran out of the lab, his face pale with horror. “We found it! The PRM value is over 600!”

Song Jin frowned: “Where was that measured?”

The doctor hurried to bring up the test report, his fingers trembling with panic: “The test tube marked N1926!”

The report was almost filled with red numbers. A PRM value of 690, marked by the system with bold exclamation points. Any PRM over 300 confirmed it had been pharmacologically modified; they had never seen one this high—it was more than double the index of a Super-O.

“This index is just too violent!” The beta school doctor was still shaken.

Seeing Song Jin deep in thought with a furrowed brow, the guard Chestnut asked in a low voice: “Do you want to report this to His Majesty personally?”

“Find someone to go to N1926 in the Nanming constellation, keep a close watch on the Fierce Tigers, and investigate their trading partners for the last twenty years.” Song Jin looked at Chestnut, his expression grave. “Except for the animal blood, pack up all other blood samples and pheromone collection specimens, and find someone reliable to personally deliver them to Snow Star and hand them to my father for further testing.”

Chestnut: “Yes!”

Song Jin: “As for that Jin fellow, use every means possible to get the truth out of him.”

Chestnut accepted the order. After giving the instructions, Song Jin strode out. After more than twenty years, the ‘problem blood’ had appeared again. If they didn’t prepare thoroughly, it would inevitably stir up another bloody storm.

Li Xiao was the one who found those two tubes of blood. In that dim, murky environment, how did Li Xiao see the double wall at a single glance?

Countless speculations about Li Xiao’s identity flashed through Song Jin’s mind, making him increasingly irritable. Guessing back and forth is worse than just asking my brother.

Qian Can had just returned to the rest cabin and was startled to see Song Jin charging in aggressively: “Boss, who upset you?”

Song Jin waved him in and entered the cabin: “Close the door!”

Qian Can: “Yes!”

Song Jin opened his terminal and dialed his brother in the “Love and Hate” family group. It took a long time for the video call to be connected; the screen showed an alpha with long golden hair. The alpha looked to be only about thirty, bearing some resemblance to Song Jin, both having a pair of beautiful amber eyes. The sedimentation of time had allowed him to restrain his sharpness, but the smile lurking in his eyes always inadvertently revealed a sense of relaxation and ease, as if everything was within his control. In comparison, Song Jin felt colder and sharper, like a rock unwashed by time, covered in jagged edges; any unobservant person who bumped into him would be left bleeding and shredded.

Song Yu looked up from his documents and glanced at him: “Why the long face just after getting married?”

Song Jin: “Brother, we’ve found the problematic blood.”

Song Yu put down the documents in his hand: “Found it within the territory?”

Song Jin: “Nanming constellation, border.”

Song Jin reported what happened on N2533 and the results of the blood sample tests to him. “Is it necessary to tighten immigration and emigration policies? Should the deployment of border troops be adjusted as well?”

Song Yu propped his chin up: “I will arrange these matters. How is the exchange student situation?”

Mentioning the exchange students, Song Jin looked at Song Yu through the screen: “Brother, do you know Li Xiao?”

Qian Can, who was hiding in the corner avoiding the screen: “…?!”

His Majesty knows Li Xiao?! These two were as far apart as could be, no matter how you thought about it.

Song Yu: “Why do you ask that?”

Song Jin observed Song Yu’s expression and probed: “I’m investigating his identity; he said you know his background.”

After he spoke, a soft, measured snort sounded in his ears. Song Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, his aura becoming sharp in an instant: “You married him without even knowing his identity? Is that how I educated you?”

Song Jin didn’t react, but it terrified Qian Can so much that he huddled into the corner, shivering.

Qian Can: “…” Here it comes! The daily scene of brothers killing each other! Scared the hell out of me!

Song Jin said blandly: “If you want something you like, you have to seize it by any means necessary. I don’t see any problem with that.”

Song Yu: “…What did you see in him?”

Song Jin’s tone was light: “His face, his body.”

Qian Can: “…” Boss, do you have to answer so bluntly?

The smile in Song Yu’s eyes disappeared; he seemed very unsatisfied with this answer.

Song Jin asked again: “Do you know him? Who exactly is he?”

“Don’t know him.” Song Yu went back to flipping through his documents.

Song Jin: “…”

Song Jin took the opportunity to say: “He said he wants to see you.”

“Won’t see him.” After finishing, Song Yu cut the video call directly.

Seeing the call ended, Qian Can cautiously moved over and handed Song Jin a small dessert he’d packed. “How could His Majesty know Li Xiao?”

“No, he knows.” Song Jin’s tone was extremely certain.

Qian Can was confused: “But His Majesty just said—”

Song Jin: “He wasn’t looking me in the eyes when he said that, and his tone sounded like he was angry at someone.”

Qian Can: “…Isn’t he just angry at you?”

Song Jin looked at him with an expression of “you idiot”: “From my brother’s words, at least three points of information can be gleaned. One, my brother not only knows Li Xiao but is quite familiar with him. Two, Li Xiao is temporarily safe as far as I’m concerned. Three, my brother anticipated that Li Xiao would want to see him.”

And there is another point, very obscure—I don’t know if it’s my imagination.

Li Xiao is very likely some kind of key existence.

Qian Can: “…” Is there? How come I didn’t hear any of that?

“It makes me more and more curious about who he is.” Song Jin didn’t even get to eat his dessert, standing up and heading out.

Observation Area.

Li Xiao and Jiang Hao went to watch the final assessment. Having finally dealt with everyone’s expressions of concern, Li Xiao sat in a corner seat, leisurely drinking tea and eating snacks.

A flash before his eyes, and the cookie in his hand was gone. Li Xiao looked up and saw Song Jin stuffing the cookie into his mouth. Song Jin sat down in the seat next to him, watching the big screen not far away: “He said he doesn’t know you. What should we do now?”

Li Xiao: “…”

Li Xiao poured him a cup of tea: “Did you ask?”

Song Jin took it, met Li Xiao’s gaze, and lowered his voice: “He also said he doesn’t want to see you.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Should I say this was within my expectations?

Since the accidental marriage with Song Jin, he had vaguely guessed this would be the outcome. Song Jin had expected to see Li Xiao anxious or pleading, but unexpectedly, the other party was breezy and light, with no emotional fluctuations. This relaxed, loose state was actually quite similar to that old man, his brother.

Li Xiao picked up another cookie and, under Song Jin’s inquisitive gaze, said unhurriedly: “Don’t worry. With you here, he’ll come to see me soon.”

Song Jin: “What does that have to do with me?”

Li Xiao looked at him: “He isn’t generous enough to give someone away to me for nothing.”

Song Jin: “…”