“You remember?”

Before he could think, Jing Xi blurted out the words.

Seeing his mix of shock and joy, Chi Yao closed the photo album and said calmly, “Am I not just a substitute?”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao took his hand and smiled. “Did I play the part well enough?”

His memories were too fragmented. He could only recall certain scenes but couldn’t piece them together.

If the body could be modified, could memories also be tampered with?

Until he was absolutely certain, he didn’t want to give Jing Xi hope only to let him down.

Expressionlessly, Jing Xi pulled his hand back and, still unsatisfied, slapped the back of Chi Yao’s hand.

“If you joke that seriously next time, you’ll get a punch.”

Chi Yao: “…”

“Boss?”

Chun Qin’s voice came from the monitor. Chi Yao turned his gaze to the screen.

“Have all these people been confirmed?” Chi Yao asked.

Chun Qin: “Confirmed, they’re all failures incapable of beast transformation.”

Jing Xi was puzzled. “Do failures have categories?”

Chi Yao instructed Chun Qin to interrogate them according to his prompts while explaining, “Most of the failures we’ve encountered can’t transform into beasts, but there are also those who, once they undergo beast transformation, can never revert back.”

On the screen, no matter what Chun Qin asked, the people remained silent.

Chi Yao switched on the speaker and said lazily, “Call some people over. Start from their ankles and work your way up—strip their skin off.”

The faces of the ghosts in the hangar instantly changed. If anyone else had said this, they might not have believed it, but it was Chi Yao speaking!

Chun Qin stood nearby, her expression cold, her voice as gentle as ever: “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate. If Major General finds out, it could cause trouble.”

The ghosts’ eyes lit up. Right! The Flying Dragon was here!

Jing Xi and Chi Yao had been rivals for a long time. Even if they were now maintaining a fragile peace due to the military’s recruitment policies, they were probably still fighting behind the scenes. In Jing Xi’s territory, Chi Yao would have to show some restraint.

“Why worry?” Chi Yao glanced at Jing Xi, who was watching the scene, and winked at him with a light smile, lowering his voice. “If we’re discovered, we can always reattach the skin. It won’t cost much.”

The ghosts: “…” Damn.

Chun Qin nodded. “I heard the Central Biotechnology Institute developed new technology late last year. This year, skin graft costs are 30% lower than last year.”

Chi Yao: “Perfect. The money saved can be used to strip them again.”

The ghosts: “!!!” Damn!

As he spoke, the hangar door opened, and a group of crew-cut subordinates walked in.

The leader respectfully handed a medical kit to Chun Qin. “Sister Qin, your kit.”

Chun Qin took it, opened it, and distributed the tools among them.

“Do you know how to strip skin?”

Subordinate: “Yes! I’m very skilled at it.”

Another subordinate: “Sister Qin, why are these knives from ten years ago? They’re too blunt.”

Chun Qin: “We have limited funds. If they don’t cut, just tear it off by hand.”

Subordinate: “Understood!”

The ghosts desperately kicked their legs, scrambling to the corners, their faces twisted in terror.

In the monitoring room, Chi Yao turned off the audio feed and couldn’t stop laughing.

Chun Qin’s voice was lower than the average woman’s, soft and utterly monotonous. Hearing her speak like this sent chills down one’s spine.

Jing Xi: “…No wonder Lao Li and the others are afraid of her.”

Soon, piercing screams and pleas for mercy echoed from the hangar.

Watching the subordinates drag them out like pigs, Jing Xi said, “A scare might get some information out of them.”

“Who said I was just scaring them?” The smile on Chi Yao’s lips faded. “I haven’t dealt with them for a while, and they think they can step all over me. If I don’t teach them a lesson, they’ll think I’m easy to bully.”

“Ah—! I’ll talk, I’ll talk—Ah!”

The screams continued incessantly.

Even though the feed was switched to thermal mode, Jing Xi could clearly see the blood spraying from the ghosts’ bodies.

Jing Xi frowned. “Chi Yao—!”

Chi Yao held him back and turned on the audio system.

“Chun Qin, record this for me.”

Chun Qin activated the recording function on her terminal.

“How much should I record?”

Chi Yao’s voice turned cold. “Record the entire process in high definition. Send it to them and let them see—if they dare lay a hand on Extreme Shadow again, this will be their fate.”

Chun Qin: “Yes.”

Though he couldn’t see the actual footage of the people, the violently writhing figures in the thermal imaging gave a clear idea of the brutality of the skinning.

Even if these were assassins, Jing Xi felt deeply unsettled.

Chi Yao led him outside. “Let’s go back. Chun Qin can handle this.”

As they left the monitoring room, Jing Xi glanced at Chi Yao several times and couldn’t help but say, “Chi Yao, that’s too cruel—”

“But they wanted to kill you!” Chi Yao turned his head, his eyes icy. “Anyone who targets you deserves to die ten thousand times over.”

Jing Xi’s brow furrowed. That Chi Yao would go to such extremes to protect him didn’t bring joy—only a heavy weight.

Chi Yao looked ahead, his voice indifferent. “Some people don’t even see themselves as human. What’s the point in sympathizing? Treat them like wild beasts.”

Back in the warship’s main cabin, Chi Yao found Ruan Lingyun’s contact number and dialed.

The first call went unanswered. Chi Yao dialed again. This time, after a long wait, it connected.

“Is the beauty too busy with business?” Chi Yao made sure the Extreme Shadow emblem on the wall behind him was visible.

Ruan Lingyun’s gaze swept over his face, a smile playing on his lips. “I was just receiving a customer for a product inspection. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Chi Yao casually took a bottle of red wine from the rack and poured himself a glass. “About that batch of goods I ordered last time—can you deliver them in two days?”

Ruan Lingyun: “We agreed the earliest delivery would be in a month—”

Chi Yao swirled his wine glass and scoffed. “Xingbang’s munitions factory is huge. Can’t you even manage this small batch on time?”

Ruan Lingyun replied calmly, “The high-end weapons you ordered require a longer production cycle.”

“High-end weapons are worthless if they can’t be used.” Chi Yao looked at the wine in his glass. “Lately, the big players in the black market have brought in new stock, and they all want me to take a look—ready for delivery right away—”

Ruan Lingyun’s brow twitched.

Extreme Shadow’s high-profile visit to 820 had stirred up the entire pirate circle, with frequent movements and actions. Now, anything labeled with Extreme Shadow’s mark became highly sought after.

Doing business with pirates, who had more money than sense, was much easier than dealing with the stingy old men in the military.

“But two days is definitely impossible.” Ruan Lingyun made an adorable, helpless expression. “If I agreed, the factory workers would curse me out.”

Chi Yao looked at him and chuckled. “No matter how insensitive I am, I can’t let you get scolded. How about this—delivery in three days, okay?”

Being stared at by Chi Yao’s eyes made Ruan Lingyun’s heart skip a beat. But hearing his words, his heartbeat steadied again. “…”

“Twenty days?” Ruan Lingyun dragged out his words in a slightly coquettish tone. “Even the military doesn’t get this kind of treatment.”

From the moment Chi Yao dialed the number, Jing Xi had consciously stepped a few paces away. He watched Chi Yao banter and laugh with this omega, feeling a subtle unease.

Just days ago, this omega had tried to attack Chi Yao, yet now they acted as if nothing had happened. The omega was doing everything to show off his charm, and Chi Yao was gladly accepting it.

At times like this, Jing Xi truly felt the impact of the more than twenty lost years on both of them.

Chi Yao placed the red wine glass back on the counter. “Half in three days, the rest in ten. No negotiation.”

Ruan Lingyun’s expression stiffened. “Mr. Chi, that’s really—”

“If you can’t do it, this will be our last deal.” Chi Yao’s lips curved upward. “Think it over. Someone will contact you in three days.”

Without waiting for Ruan Lingyun’s response, he hung up.

After the screen went black, Ruan Lingyun’s expression fell. “What a tough nut to crack!”

He remained silent for a moment before dialing another number.

The screen displayed a spacious living room with sunset light streaming through a full-length window. Aside from that, the room was empty.

“Well?” A hoarse, elderly voice spoke.

Ruan Lingyun’s back stiffened, and he straightened up. “Chi Yao wants us to deliver the goods in three days.”

“So urgent?”

Ruan Lingyun frowned. “Extreme Shadow is at its peak right now. He probably wants to use this momentum to expand its influence.”

For the pirate circle, the current trend could be called a revolution. Whoever seized the opportunity first could dominate this circle. Clearly, the opportunity had now fallen into Chi Yao’s hands.

Hearing no response for a while, Ruan Lingyun cautiously asked, “Should we comply?”

After a moment, the elderly voice spoke unhurriedly. “Deliver only one-tenth in the first batch. If he keeps pushing, follow the contract.”

So, only a half-step concession?

Ruan Lingyun respectfully replied, “Yes, I’ll handle it immediately.”

On the warship, after hanging up, Chi Yao couldn’t spot Jing Xi at first glance. “Xixi?”

Chi Yao looked around. Did he go back to the hangar? It was just like Jing Xi to run back out of guilt and try to stop it. The thought made Chi Yao both annoyed and amused.

Passing by the small conference room, he saw Jing Xi sitting alone inside, reviewing frontline reports.

Jing Xi was approving documents sent by his subordinates when he was suddenly embraced from behind.

He turned. “What did they say?”

“Playing hard to get.” Chi Yao nuzzled against his cheek. “We’ll probably get a batch, but the quantity is hard to guarantee.”

“Quantity isn’t the issue.” Jing Xi leaned back comfortably. “If the munitions are indeed problematic, one batch is enough as evidence.”

Chi Yao breathed in Jing Xi’s scent, wishing he could attach him to his waist and carry him everywhere.

“I thought you were angry and ignoring me.” Chi Yao kissed his beautiful jawline a few times.

Jing Xi lowered his eyes slightly, hiding the complex emotions within. “I’m not angry.”

Seeing his unusual expression, Chi Yao lifted his chin. “Your face says otherwise.”

Jing Xi looked into his eyes and opened his mouth. “I just feel… like I’m so far away from you.”

Chi Yao was taken aback. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Jing Xi took his hand and held it tightly. “It’s like there’s a transparent barrier between us. You’re inside, I’m outside. I can’t get in, and you can’t get out.”

More than anger or jealousy, Jing Xi felt helpless. They should have grown up in the same circle.

Chi Yao: “But I feel like you’re inside, and I’m outside.”

Jing Xi’s eyes flickered. “You feel that way too?”

Chi Yao chuckled and kissed the corner of his lips. “Don’t overthink it. It’s just a barrier—we’ll break through it.”

Jing Xi smiled bitterly and opened his mouth to respond. Easier said than done. The more he cared, the more things weighed on his mind. Even the smallest details about the other person lingered in his thoughts for a long time.

As they walked out of the conference room, Chi Yao received a video from Chun Qin.

Jing Xi leaned over to look but was pushed away with a hand over his eyes. “Kids shouldn’t look at this.”

Jing Xi: “…”

Chi Yao took his hand, opened his terminal, and directly accessed the general officers’ work group. He sent the video with a message:

【Extreme Shadow captured members of Ghosts and tortured them. They are now under control.】

By the time Jing Xi saw it, there were already many replies.

“Damn! Extreme Shadow is too brutal!”

“Are they really skinning people alive?!”

“Is that Chi Yao’s voice in the video? Who is ‘they’ he mentioned?”

“Isn’t Extreme Shadow at 820? Are Ghosts there too? What did they do?”

Jing Xi skimmed through the replies and asked Chi Yao, “Fishing?”

If the mastermind was in the military, their rank was likely high.

“Making an example.” Chi Yao sneered. “If they can’t hold back and show themselves, that would be even better.”

Jing Xi thought for a moment and replied:

【Ghosts attempted to hijack Extreme Shadow but were counterattacked. Chi Yao is currently detained and under criticism and education.】

Soon, another long string of replies followed.

“Black eats black! The pirate circle is terrifying.”

“Skinning people at the drop of a hat… but Ghosts hijacking Extreme Shadow is also confusing.”

“Extreme Shadow has been in the spotlight lately. Maybe Ghosts are not satisfied and trying to compete for dominance.”

“In comparison, I still prefer Extreme Shadow. Whenever Ghosts appear, there’s bound to be casualties.”

Reading that last line, Chi Yao: “…”

Chi Yao raised an eyebrow. “How will you criticize and educate me?”

“Verbally criticize. As for education—” Jing Xi turned off his terminal and looked at him. “I’ll tell you tonight when we take turns returning to the rest cabin?”

Chi Yao: “…”