"My point is... could you be a warrior for me alone...?"
Irelia: This Is Illegal!
Chen Ce rested for several more days before finally removing the bandages that had nearly covered his entire body.
Over the past few days, Irelia had even brought him to recuperate in her own home so she could take better care of him.
It was worth mentioning that this powerful Resistance Army leader often acted like a little girl who had yet to grow up when they were alone—at least in front of those she cherished. It was quite interesting.
Her gestures, words, behavior, and even her clothing were all like that.
For instance, before heading out in the morning, she was not wearing her symbolic red bodysuit and silver light armor. Instead, she wore a slightly loose casual outfit.
On top was a pure white-gray sweater with a high collar and no sleeves. Whenever she raised her arms, the loose sides revealed a peculiar sight... not only her smooth underarms, but also the faintly visible curves at her sides... truly a tempting view.
Below, she wore only a pair of shorts that did not reach her knees. Her shapely calves were openly exposed to the air, while her full thighs and the "mysterious territory" further up were occasionally revealed as her movements grew larger.
Her thick, silky black hair fell casually to her waist, tied only in a simple high ponytail that made her look both innocent and spirited.
It was hard to say whether this outfit looked better than her usual attire, but it certainly had a charm of its own.
Right now, she looked more like a lively, cheerful girl next door.
The sort who would still shake your arm every morning and gently call you up for breakfast.
Sometimes, she would rise lightly onto her toes, puff out her cheeks, tilt up her head, and scold you in a coy tone, "Why did you stay up so late again? Did you do something bad last night?"
Like now, she was gently chiding him from another angle.
"Your bandages were just removed. How can you do physical work? Put down the dishes. I'll handle them later."
Irelia's face was full of "displeasure," but the emotion in her eyes was warm and delighted.
"Honestly, you still need to rest properly..."
"I've already rested for several days straight." Chen Ce smiled, but he still did not put down the dishes in his hands. "If you keep supporting me like this, I'm going to turn into a useless pretty boy."
The moment those words fell, Irelia's fair, lovely face turned red again.
"What do you mean, supporting you... I'm not... I just want you to rest properly... You won't become useless... You said you would protect me for the rest of your life..."
As she spoke, she took the remaining bowls, chopsticks, and plates and slipped into the kitchen.
The sound of running water soon followed, and Chen Ce went after her.
The girl had her back to him, but he could clearly hear her breathing become slightly deeper and faster. He could also smell her faint body fragrance.
"Don't come over... The kitchen is dirty. It would be troublesome if anything got into your wounds..."
Chen Ce did not answer. He merely watched the slender figure before him in silence.
The back of Irelia's sweater was partially hollowed out, giving off something like the feel of a Chu Nan Assassin, though it exposed much less.
Still, it was enough to outline her flawless back.
White, clean, and distinctly curved.
Through the opening at her back, he could also happen to see the sleeveless portions at her sides.
"Y-you... what are you doing..." Irelia had not heard a response for a long time and could only feel a scorching gaze resting on her.
Over all these years, she seemed never to have realized one thing—
She was actually very beautiful, and her body held a powerful attraction for the opposite sex.
Chen Ce was no exception.
"I was... thinking about how to help you." Chen Ce smiled and stepped forward, then...
Gently hugged her.
His arms extended from either side of the girl's waist to the sink in front of her.
"Let's wash them together."
"..." Irelia's delicate body trembled as she was suddenly embraced, and every muscle in her body became incomparably stiff.
She could feel his face close beside hers. She could even feel his warm breath... so close.
She recalled that "treatment" from a few days ago... that wild feeling...
To be honest, she did not dislike it. She even found it a little... novelly enjoyable...
It was just... far too embarrassing...
She could not help shifting slightly—not to struggle, but simply to find a more comfortable position.
Her smooth, fair back lightly rubbed against Chen Ce's chest, and her still fairly full breasts accidentally brushed against the crook of his arm.
"Eep..." She unconsciously made a strange sound.
Her face became even redder.
The water continued running. Chen Ce said nothing, and she gradually adapted to the ambiguous atmosphere—after doing that kind of thing, merely hugging... mm... it was nothing...
She began to savor the warmth of the embrace, feeling only a wave of comfort in her heart.
Until... a strange sensation came.
She felt... a hand slip through the opening at the back of her sweater...
And slowly move forward...
"Chen, Chen Ce...? Are you... giving me a massage...? It's a massage... right...?"
Half an hour later, Irelia buried her head in a pillow.
Her face was red all the way to her ears, and her breathing had become unusually hurried, as though she had just gone through a fierce battle.
"You went too far...!" she complained in a slightly aggrieved voice. "It's broad daylight...!"
"I only wanted to give you a massage," Chen Ce explained. "You've been too tired lately. You need to relax too."
"A massage? You call that a massage...?!" Remembering everything that had just happened, Irelia felt like a little lamb tricked by a big bad wolf.
The beginning had indeed been a normal massage—and it was precisely because the beginning had been normal that she let him do that... But what about afterward? Would a massage touch those places from time to time? How could that possibly be a proper massage...!
The more Irelia thought about it, the more wronged she felt. Feeling that merely "scolding" him was not enough, she directly kicked Chen Ce—of course, very, very lightly.
While pretending to be hurt, he took the opportunity to stroke that flawless jade-like foot.
Irelia became even more embarrassed.
"Too much... pervert...!"
She ran into the room in a huff.
Chen Ce did not go after her. He merely sat quietly on the sofa and waited—he knew she was not truly angry, only that it was time.
After all, Irelia was the leader of the Resistance Army. She could not spend all day accompanying him in doing such... strange things. When the time came, she still had to change clothes and go to work.
Very soon, the beautiful and powerful girl emerged from the room, her "suggestive casual outfit" replaced by the combat uniform she usually wore.
"I'm going to work. Rest here by yourself, and wait for me to come back tonight and cook." Her cheeks were puffed out, and she still looked a little "angry." "Don't secretly do any work yourself. Wait for me to come back and do it, understand?"
"Got it, got it, my dear Auntie Irelia." Chen Ce laughed.
"Huh? Are you saying I'm naggy?" Irelia naturally understood what he meant and immediately reached out to pinch his waist.
But Chen Ce only laughed even harder.
Irelia could not help laughing too.
"You shameless thing... I'm leaving. Remember to be good and wait at home for me to come back."
"Okay." Chen Ce nodded in reply.
But just as Irelia was about to push the door open and leave, she seemed to suddenly remember something and inexplicably turned back.
"Wait, I almost forgot to leave something for you..."
"What? More medicine? Or supplements?" Chen Ce asked.
"No, neither."
"Then what is it?"
"It's... this."
Irelia suddenly bent down and, with incredible speed, "pecked" Chen Ce on the neck.
She even deliberately sucked once.
A little strawberry was planted just like that.
"Alright, see you tonight~"
"..." That actually left Chen Ce feeling a little embarrassed.
Now Irelia was truly heading out.
However... the instant she opened the door, she saw an old acquaintance walking this way several dozen meters away.
That person also noticed her just as she opened the door.
"Good morning, Commander." The Second Legion Commander of the Resistance Army—Chen Ce's former superior—smiled and greeted her from afar.
He moved quickly and arrived in just a few seconds.
Then, he suddenly lost the smile on his face.
"Commander, there's news about the traitor..."
There's a Traitor Among Us
Morse, the Second Legion Commander of the Placidium Resistance Army, was an old soldier over forty. Born into poverty, he possessed remarkable talent in martial arts and an iron will. During the two-and-a-half-year Ionian Resistance War, he had earned countless merits and had even made great contributions in the turning-point battle known as the Stand of Navori.
He was the most beloved legion commander in the Placidium Resistance Army, as well as the one who treated his subordinates best.
Chen Ce thought highly of him too—not to mention the past, just a few days ago, Morse had helped teach Glick, the leader of the Brotherhood, a lesson.
"Good morning, Commander."
The instant that burly figure entered the doorway, Chen Ce immediately stood and gave a military salute.
The legion commander before him had not only been his superior, but also the benefactor who had saved his life back then.
When he had first crossed over into this world, it was the Second Legion Commander, Morse, who had taken him from a ruined village and brought him into the Placidium Resistance Army.
"Hm? Chen Ce?" Morse recognized the young man before him as well, and an expression of surprise appeared on his weathered, scarred face.
Then he looked at the Commander beside him and suddenly seemed to realize something.
Then he looked again at the way the two gazed at each other, and he basically understood everything.
"Haha, promising young man, Ce."
He stepped forward and firmly patted Chen Ce's shoulder, wearing an expression that said, We're all men here. I get it.
"We used to discuss in private who would have the ability and luck to win the Commander's heart one day... I never expected that lucky fellow to come from my Second Legion. I really never expected it."
"Ahem..." Hearing that, Irelia coughed awkwardly. "Morse, Chen Ce is still injured. Please don't pat his shoulder so hard."
"Oh, oh, sorry, sorry..." Morse quickly withdrew his hand, though the suggestive meaning in his eyes only grew stronger.
Just as he wanted to tease them a little more, Irelia put on a serious expression again.
"Let's continue with what we were discussing just now—I want to know who that black sheep is."
"Yes." At the mention of this topic, Morse also put away his playful attitude. "May I report the information here directly?"
"You may." When it came to trust, Chen Ce was now the person Irelia trusted most. Naturally, she was not afraid of him hearing it.
Besides, Chen Ce was the one who wanted most to catch that traitor.
He had nearly died because of the traitor before.
"Then I'll speak plainly." After receiving Commander Irelia's approval, Morse slowly revealed the intelligence he had gathered over the past two days:
"Since the meeting with Karma, I have conducted a thorough investigation throughout the Second Legion. On one hand, I investigated the recent movements, assets, and other matters concerning everyone in the legion. On the other, I also carried out partial investigations within my authority into the other legions."
"As for the internal investigation, I have not found any overly obvious issues for the time being. I have compiled a list of people who may be suspicious, and I will submit it later. The key is the second part of the investigation."