Who is being conquered?

"It's not that I'm not good with firearms, it's just relatively speaking..." A sly smile played on Bai Jun's lips, a sense of inexplicable pleasure radiating from him.

"Hmph, well, you didn't beat me either. At best, we're tied." Although Ye Linna already had a faint feeling that she couldn't compare to Bai Jun, she stubbornly turned her face away to save face.

Just then, the judging machine, having tallied the number of blue targets hit by both parties' pistols, announced the result in a cold, steady voice: "Position 1: 9 points, Position 2: 11 points."

Ye Linna's expression froze. She looked down at her pistol, and the number displayed at the muzzle was a prominent 9.

Everyone's shooting range only displayed ten light spots, so why was there a point difference... Wait a minute!?

"The ultimate goal is to shatter the blue light spots, right?"

Bai Jun's words from before the match seemed to echo in Ye Linna's ears again. She gradually understood everything—Bai Jun must have secretly shattered a blue target on her side of the range while she wasn't paying attention!

"When did..."

She still found it unbelievable. Turning her head, she saw Bai Jun casually picking up his pistol, the trigger guard spinning with a flourish on his finger. The steady muzzle bore a large "11."

"During your last round of shooting at the obstacles," he said, putting down his pistol with a smug hum. "Times have changed. I won this time."

"That doesn't count, doesn't count, doesn't count!" Ye Linna vigorously shook her head, refusing to acknowledge Bai Jun's victory. "My internet lagged... no, wait, my hands were cold. Ah, anyway, I wasn't in good form, so that doesn't count! And you're too despicable!"

"Eh? But you're reneging now, Miss Ye Linna. Didn't you say you wanted me to go all out?"

This was the first time Bai Jun had seen the usually mature and composed Ye Linna display such girlish petulance. Her flushed cheeks were indeed cute, but Bai Jun still felt it was better to discuss matters seriously.

"No, no, no! Let's have a rematch! And you're not allowed to shoot at my targets this time!"

Ye Linna put on a "if you refuse, I'll cry" expression, forcibly dragging Bai Jun back to the shooting range. She then very unfairly imposed restrictions on Bai Jun.

"Alright, alright, another round, another round."

With no other option, Bai Jun distanced himself from Ye Linna and returned to his position to reload.

"Don't blame me for being despicable; I definitely won't lose again this time!" Ye Linna mobilized 120% of her focus, took a deep breath, and locked her gaze onto the target paper fifty meters away.

10, 9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1—!

Another piercing horn blared, and the familiar blue targets gradually appeared on the paper targets on both sides.

—This time, I can't let Bai Jun shoot at my targets. The worst-case scenario is a tie. I can do it, Ye Linna, you definitely can... Huh!?

Ye Linna's initial plan was to shatter all the blue targets on her side, aiming for at least a tie with Bai Jun.

However, just as she shattered two blue targets and was about to fire her third shot, she saw a bullet flying precisely towards her side.

With a bang, the bullet accurately hit the muzzle of Ye Linna's gun, successfully deflecting her third shot a few centimeters off its intended trajectory...

Beep, one round ended.

Bai Jun: 3 points, Ye Linna: 2 points.

"H-how could this be..." Ye Linna took a few disbelieving steps back, collapsing onto the ground in a seated position.

"Heh heh, I'm definitely going to win."

Bai Jun casually put away his pistol and, in a chivalrous manner, extended a helping hand to Ye Linna, who was lying on the ground in existential despair. "Don't worry about it. Losing to me isn't something to be ashamed of—Kua!"

This time, it was Ye Linna who bit his arm with a grunt.

Chapter 50: Something's Off, Let's Take Another Look

"Sigh, I finally understand who Zhang Zhang takes after," Bai Jun said, rubbing his arm, which bore clear teeth marks, as he looked somewhat resentfully at Ye Linna.

"Hmph, serves you right for always cheating."

"Come on, Miss Ye Linna, you were the one who said to go all out. How has it become me cheating now?"

Ye Linna hugged Zhang Zhang in her arms. Although her pouting face suggested anger, she exuded an exceptionally relaxed aura. She turned her face away, but her eyes kept darting towards Bai Jun. Seeing his dejected expression, she chuckled, her feigned seriousness instantly dissipating. She walked over and gently patted his shoulder.

"Alright, I'm not teasing you anymore. I admit, I'm not as good as you when it comes to shooting."

When it came to admitting others were superior, Ye Linna's attitude was very straightforward. In fact, in the high-pressure environment of the Interastral Peace Corporation, those who were too petty couldn't survive.

"It's good that you know that," Bai Jun said, accepting Ye Linna's compliment with equal frankness. He then shamelessly asked, "Do you want to learn my Glock jump-shot tutorial?"

"Hey, hey, don't push your luck. And what's a Glock? If it's something bad, I'll let Zhang Zhang bite you." As she spoke, Ye Linna suddenly brought Zhang Zhang closer to Bai Jun's face.

"Just kidding, don't do that." Seeing Zhang Zhang, Bai Jun instinctively took a step to the side, subtly changing the subject. "I'm hungry. Do you have any plans?"

"Hungry?"

Ye Linna first looked up at the sun directly overhead, then glanced at the time on her wrist. The hands on her small watch pointed precisely to 11:24. This surprised her, as her sense of time was usually quite sharp, and she had never subconsciously lost track of time like this before.

"Ugh, I didn't realize it was already this late..." Ye Linna's gaze returned to Bai Jun, her tone tinged with a hint of apology. "Sorry, I know a good restaurant around here. Let's just go there to eat."

Bai Jun nodded, indicating he had no objections. He wasn't too picky about food, as long as it was edible... and preferably cheap, as his finances were a bit tight lately.

"Speaking of which, Bai Jun, how did you get so good at shooting? This level of skill would be considered top-tier in the company. But looking at you... do you use swords?" Ye Linna, walking ahead, suddenly turned her head curiously, pointing at the saber sheathed at his waist.

"Strictly speaking, swords aren't my true forte. As for this saber, at best it's some kind of ritual tool. I just wear it around to look the part," Bai Jun said, gently stroking the exquisitely carved hilt and the scabbard etched with flame patterns, as if reminiscing about something.

"Oh? That sounds like there's a story behind it. Can you tell me about it?"

Hearing his remark, Ye Linna's interest was piqued. Unable to suppress her curiosity, which felt like a feather tickling her insides, she moved closer to him, listening intently.

"Hmm, there's not much to say about this saber. If I had to say something, it would be that my true specialty is the greatsword." Skillfully dodging the topic of his saber, Bai Jun shrugged and struck a pose as if holding a greatsword with both hands.

"A greatsword? That's quite rare..."

"Each region of the Xianzhou Alliance has its own distinct sword styles. Luofu swordsmanship emphasizes lightness and agility, while Zhuming swordsmanship is characterized by grand, sweeping movements – unrestrained and fluid, alternating between slow and fast, powerful and swift like a charging tiger. Yaoqing swordsmanship focuses on clean, decisive strokes, continuous and unbroken, with clear distinctions between strong and weak, weaving points and lines together, pursuing profound meaning. You find greatswords rare simply because you haven't been to Zhuming."

"Zhuming's craftsmanship is highly developed. The artisans there love nothing more than to take unfinished sword blanks and compete to see whose material is more robust. If you could witness that scene, you'd probably understand what 'grand, sweeping movements' truly means..."

As they walked, Bai Jun explained meticulously, like a professional interstellar tour guide. Ye Linna, walking beside him, listened with great interest, nodding occasionally as if she could truly picture the scenes in Zhuming.

"I see. I originally thought the Zhuming Xianzhou was just a crude, massive forge, with sparks flying everywhere and muscular artisans hammering away. Now I realize it must be because I've visited too many low-civilization planets, completely forgetting that Zhuming is a renowned academy of craftsmanship, on par with Belobog and Screwllum."

"To never have seen the fires of Zhuming and yet travel the seas of stars is a wasted journey. If you have the chance in the future, you should go there. I personally think it's quite fun," Bai Jun commented.

As they spoke, the two arrived at the restaurant Ye Linna had mentioned. It was mealtime, and the restaurant was packed. Fortunately, a soundproof private room was still available. With a wave of her hand, the wealthy Ye Linna generously displayed her financial power to Bai Jun once again.

The kitchen stove blazed, and the aroma of seafood broth, shrimp, and rice gradually wafted out, filling the entire space. Just as the scent reached its peak, two plates of stir-fried seafood rice and a bowl of fish soup were served by a waiter.

"Bai Jun, you know Zhuming so well, it doesn't seem like you've just visited. Are you perhaps a local from Zhuming?" Ye Linna handed a spoon to Bai Jun opposite her, and casually fed a few gems to Zhang Zhang in her arms to keep it from fussing.

"Yeah, something like that."

He picked up the spoon, scooped a mouthful of steaming rice, and then silently sped up, clearing his plate with a speed that could only be described as a whirlwind. When he was thoroughly enjoying himself, he mumbled through a mouthful of food, "Mmm, delicious. Ye Linna, you picked a good spot..."

Ye Linna watched Bai Jun devour his meal, a gentle smile gracing her eyes. She picked up a napkin and gently wiped a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth. "I'm glad you like it. Eat slowly. We can order more if you're still hungry."

Bzzzt—

The Jade Omen suddenly rang. Ye Linna instinctively reached for her phone in her pocket, only to realize it wasn't hers.

"Ahem..."

Perhaps from eating too quickly, or perhaps influenced by the Jade Omen in his pocket, Bai Jun suddenly coughed. Seeing this, Ye Linna quickly handed him the seafood soup. He drank half a bowl with gulps and then let out a satisfied sigh.

"Sorry, I need to take this call outside."

He took out the Jade Omen from his pocket with a hint of displeasure. Upon seeing the name displayed, he sighed, then took off his jacket and stood up, heading out of the restaurant.

Ye Linna watched his retreating back as he left the restaurant. Just as she was about to start eating, she caught sight of Zhang Zhang, who should have been eating gems beside her, scurrying over to Bai Jun's seat. It then pulled a notebook with a crow illustration from his jacket pocket.

"Zhang Zhang! Don't rummage through other people's things!"

Hearing Ye Linna's indignant voice, Zhang Zhang immediately let go of the notebook in its mouth and obediently returned to its chair.

Ye Linna quickly picked up the notebook from the floor, flipping through it to check if Zhang Zhang's teeth had damaged it. As Ye Linna's gaze landed on a particular page, her pupils suddenly widened.

"Wait... This, this is!"

Chapter 51: You little caterpillar, why do you have such a vivid imagination?

At the restaurant entrance, Bai Jun looked at the name displayed on the Jade Omen call, his expression somewhat helpless.

Being interrupted halfway through a meal was extremely unpleasant, but he still chose to patiently tap the answer button. As expected, a person's nagging immediately came from the other end of the Jade Omen.

"Ah, you finally answered! So slow, why so slow today? I thought you overslept, or maybe you just forgot about this. But thankfully, it seems those worries were unnecessary."

"How could I possibly forget what I promised yesterday? So, may I ask why you've specifically called me, my esteemed Cold Crow?" Bai Jun rubbed his eyes, finally managing to squeeze some lucidity out of his groggy state.

The voice on the other end of the Jade Omen sounded almost cheerful. "Can't I call you just because there's nothing important? Or are you just trying to ignore me, thinking I'm simply nagging?"

"Let's talk business."

Hearing Bai Jun's now indifferent tone, Cold Crow on the other end of the Jade Omen realized that joking further might be too much. She cleared her throat and said, "I'm mainly here to inform you that my sister's resurrection time is around six in the afternoon. The specific meeting place will be the San Yu Bookstore. Don't forget what I taught you yesterday – you must make sure my sister enjoys her resurrection day!"

"Leave it to me. Is there anything else?"

"No, but if you want, we can chat more—"

Beep. Bai Jun hung up the Jade Omen and turned back towards the restaurant. Compared to the boring chatter with Cold Crow, he felt eating was more worthwhile. As he reached the private room door, Bai Jun noticed Ye Linna looking down, engrossed in something.

"What are you looking at?"

"Ah... S-sorry, I didn't mean to look!"

The sudden voice made Ye Linna, who was engrossed in her reading, shriek. She covered her flushed face, and the notebook slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor.

Bai Jun was a bit puzzled by her panic. He looked down and saw it was the notebook Cold Crow had given him to use when he ran out of topics for chatting with Xue Yi. He must have dropped it accidentally when he took off his jacket.

He had skimmed through a few pages. It was mostly just meaningless ramblings anyway... Thinking this, Ye Linna's panic was probably because she was afraid he'd think she was a scumbag who snooped on other people's privacy.

What a naive girl.

He bent down to pick up the notebook from the floor, seemingly unbothered, and smiled reassuringly, "It's okay, I won't mind such a small thing."

"Y-you don't mind! You don't mind even with this!?"

Ye Linna's face visibly turned even redder, her fair cheeks flushed with a pink hue. Her fingers nervously fiddled with her sleeve, her eyes beginning to well up.

"Why would I mind..."

Looking at her reaction, Bai Jun felt a strange sense of unease. He quietly flipped open a few more pages of the notebook and found it still contained Cold Crow's usual meaningless complaints. Only then did he begin to relax. "Alright, I won't hold it against you. Let's hurry up and eat."

"O-okay..."

In any case, the lunch concluded in a rather peculiar atmosphere. Even after finishing the meal, Ye Linna's face still held a faint blush, which, while cute, made Bai Jun feel even more perplexed.

"That's all for today, Bai Jun. I-I still need to feed the little ones at home. See you next time~" Ye Linna waved goodbye to Bai Jun and then ran off, holding Zhang Zhang.

"Goodbye."

Standing at the restaurant entrance, Bai Jun stroked his chin, watching Ye Linna's flustered retreating figure with a somewhat peculiar expression.

This girl is quite endearingly silly...

As Ye Linna hurried through the streets, her heart pounded as if it would leap out of her chest. The contents of the notebook from earlier were vivid in her mind, reappearing every time she tried to forget them.

Ah, Huo Huo has become quite cute lately. She's really grown into a lovely young lady, though she really needs to overcome her habit of being afraid of everyone she meets.

Do Foxkin ears change with their mood like Huo Huo's? When she's happy, they perk up, and when she's not, they droop down... so adorable.

I brushed Huo Huo's fox ears today, they're super soft, I love it. Too bad I can't brush her tail.

I've discovered Huo Huo's true charm isn't her fox ears or her tail, but her dark circles. They look incredibly alluring against her fair little face... It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I get really excited whenever I see them!

Her steps halted in a secluded alley. With no one around, she shyly crouched down, burying her face in Zhang Zhang and rubbing back and forth. "Ahhh, Zhang Zhang, do you think this is an XP? Dark circles... Why is his XP so weird! No wonder he had such dark circles today!"

"Huh?"

"N-no, the most important thing is that he actually said something like 'I won't mind such a small thing'! Could it be... he's hinting at me!?"

He deliberately showed her the contents of the notebook, then pretended nothing was wrong, saying things like "I won't mind such a small thing." Was he hinting that she should also have dark circles from now on?

It had to be! Otherwise, she couldn't think of any reason why someone would do something so shamelessly.

Ye Linna seemed to realize something, and suddenly her flushed cheeks deepened as she stared intently at Zhang Zhang, as if trying to confirm something. "S-so, does that mean Bai Jun actually likes me?"

Bzzzt—

Seeing Ye Linna fantasizing about something and getting a nosebleed, Zhang Zhang felt a bit helpless. It nudged Ye Linna's leg, then pointed to her pocket. Only then did Ye Linna notice her phone was ringing.

The name displayed was her team leader and senior – Francisco De Bisky.

This instantly cleared Ye Linna's mind, which had been in a confused state of excitement and shyness. She quickly tapped the answer button. Before she could speak, the aged, steady voice from the other end of the line came first: "How was your holiday break, Ye Linna?"

"Mhm, it was very pleasant! Uncle De Bisky."

"Ah, good to hear it was pleasant... Now, I have something very important to announce to you."