Since they didn’t need to raid a research institute for the ti being, Jiang Qin once again led her hangers-on into the next city they reached.
Bai Ruo still followed her cautiously.
As for Qing Luo, his earplugs were now a permanent fixture, and he looked perpetually drunk, trailing behind them with a tipsy, dazed expression.
The new city they arrived at was Sumr City.
It was a city under the jurisdiction of the Qiuxia Gang.
As soon as she entered the city, Jiang Qin noticed a difference.
Shockingly, there were patrols on the streets.
Moreover, when they entered, the guards learned there was a female in their group. Even though she was only a Half-beastman, they still received preferential treatnt.
First, Bai Ruo’s entrance fee was waived. Then, they received a twenty-percent discount on rent.
On the streets, she could see many females strolling about, and even many Half-beastman females at work.
Bai Ruo was getting excited.
As long as she could work, she would feel secure. At the very least, she could support herself.
It was the places with no work that were difficult to survive in.
Sumr City had many entertainnt venues, so its foot traffic was exceptionally high.
More people naturally ant more noise.
Everywhere they went, they could hear people talking loudly.
For so peace and quiet, Jiang Qin paid a hefty price to stay in the city’s best hotel.
Sumr City had clearly distinct districts.
The houses built from stone were at the far end of the city, while the area near the entrance gate was built entirely from Interstellar materials.
Although resources were also scarce here, the city wasn’t stingy with its neon lights after nightfall.
Compared to the houses in Baofeng City that offered zero privacy, the soundproofing here was excellent.
After coming out of the shower, Jiang Qin looked at Long Hao on the bed and found herself in an awkward position.
Given how intimate they had beco, she had, in fact, already accepted him in her heart.
’But... a person and a dragon... how does that even...’
’Waiting for an answer online, it’s pretty urgent.’
anwhile, Long Hao, lying under the covers, was also far from calm.
Before, he had been injured and groggy, and then he had fallen asleep quickly, so he hadn’t thought much about it.
But tonight... he was wide awake!
Moreover, after her shower, Jiang Qin had removed her boyish disguise and washed her face, revealing her usual countenance—cool and aloof, yet with a hint of allure.
What’s more, she was wearing a white nightgown that looked incredibly smooth and silky.
He didn’t even dare to look directly at her fair skin.
Although he was usually so forward about wanting to be her partner, now that they were actually alone in a room, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
But then he thought about his current situation and couldn’t help but feel deflated.
Jiang Qin sat on the edge of the bed and suddenly asked in all seriousness, "Long Hao, will you go back to the Empire in the future?"
"Probably not."
He didn’t have anyone left in the Empire he cared about, and those he had cared about had almost all died in battle.
Those who remained weren’t dead yet, but they would be sooner or later.
They were warriors, after all. Their fate was either the battlefield or becoming an Alien Beast when their Riot Value overloaded.
So he had said his goodbyes to them long ago.
Saying goodbye early ant they could each go their own way. By no longer seeking news of one another, they wouldn’t have to face the pain of being separated by life or death.
Jiang Qin pressed, "Even if your body recovered and your Riot Value dropped to zero, you still wouldn’t go back?"
"Pfft. That’s a ridiculous hypothetical, but I’ll tell you in all seriousness: no.
I plan on spending the rest of my life clinging to you, until you agree to take responsibility for ."
"Even if the Federation and the Empire go to war one day, you wouldn’t return to the battlefield?"
Long Hao, lying flat on the covers, answered without a mont’s hesitation. "No. Even if a war breaks out, it won’t have much to do with .
I don’t have any other status now. I’m just an ordinary citizen of the Empire.
Once we’re married, I’ll be your man. My citizenship will even be registered under your na.
So, what does a war have to do with ?"
"Qinqin, are you worried the two nations will go to war? Don’t be. It won’t happen for at least the next three hundred years.
Right now, the main priority is uniting to fight the Alien Beasts.
There’s so data the higher-ups don’t publicize, but most people know that over the past century, the Alien Beasts have been reproducing faster and faster.
Especially in the last few decades, the birth rate of us Beastn has been steadily declining, while the reproductive capacity of the Alien Beasts has tripled."
"Tripled?" Jiang Qin was astonished.
One had to understand that Alien Beasts were creatures that had multiple litters a year, with many offspring per litter. If that rate were to triple...
’Wouldn’t that an...’
’No wonder the topics of recent discussions have grown increasingly anxious.’
"Mhm, so Qinqin, you don’t need to worry about the two nations going to war.
I understand your concerns, but the fact that I’m here ans I’ve already considered every possibility and made a clean break with my past.
If that day ever truly cos, your position is my position."
Jiang Qin didn’t understand. "We barely know each other. Why are you..."
’She really didn’t understand. All of her partners seed to be this way.’
’She couldn’t recall feeling any profound bond between them, nor had they sworn eternal vows or faced life and death together.’
’Yet, once they decided on her, they were all able to choose her without reservation, with unwavering resolve.’
’Yun Xie was like that, and so were Lan Yuyan, Shi Lichuan, and Cang Hong.’
’Even Long Hao was willing to leave the Empire for her sake.’
Long Hao said earnestly, "I can’t speak for others, but I’m never half-hearted about my decisions.
In my life, there is no ’Option B.’
You are my first choice, and my only choice."
Since she was his only choice, he naturally held nothing back.
Jiang Qin froze.
’In truth, she wasn’t without weaknesses. Hers was quite obvious, really.’
’She always had a soft spot for people who chose her with unwavering conviction.’
’It’s just as they say: you chase after what you lack.’
’If you lack money, you’ll want money.’
’If you lack love, you’ll crave being loved.’
’And what did she lack?’
Jiang Qin recalled mories from her childhood.
It might sound overly sentintal, but so things had truly left a deep scar on her heart.
Once, a couple had wanted to adopt her. Everything was already decided. But then they heard a younger girl call them "mommy" and "daddy" with childish innocence, and they changed their minds.
They felt they had more of a fateful connection with the little girl.
She was only a few years old at the ti, so she naturally couldn’t help but feel a crushing sense of disappointnt.
She even began to turn on herself.
She wondered countless tis: if she had been a little sweeter, if she had also called them "mommy" and "daddy," would they have changed their minds?
Was it because she wasn’t clingy enough, not sweet enough, and therefore not likable?
It wasn’t until much later that she finally understood. No, it was because their decision to choose her hadn’t been resolute enough.
They were the ones who had made a decision without thinking it through, only to discard it just as easily.
It was a very immature thing to do.
So, from that mont on, she decided that she would beco soone who never made a choice, or a promise, lightly.
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