"No, you can't take a genetic compatibility test with him!"
Yan stepped half a pace forward almost instinctively, a rare flicker of nervousness flashing through her golden eyes.
Leng raised an eyebrow at Yan, the teasing in her eyes turning into a meaningful, appraising look.
"Oh? What's gotten into our Thunderclap War God today? Are you actually planning to tear a couple apart?"
Arms folded across her chest, she slowly circled halfway around Yan, her tone full of playful mockery.
"Don't you know it's better to tear down ten temples than ruin one marriage? Zhi Xin is our dear sister. It's one thing not to wish her well, but you're actually getting in her way. What exactly are you playing at?"
Yan opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat.
Everyone within the Angel Civilization knew that her genetic compatibility with Ge Xiaolun was as high as 85%. It was practically taken for granted that Ge Xiaolun would be her ideal man.
But that had been before Qin Feng appeared!
Now even Queen Kaisa herself had told her to pursue true love bravely, but she couldn't exactly shout that out in front of Qin Feng, could she?
She was Queen Kaisa's Left-Wing Guardian, after all. She had her dignity.
In the end, she could only force out an explanation. "I just think it's better to let things like this take their natural course. You can't force love."
Leng scoffed, clearly not believing a single word.
"Force love? Go on, tell me who could force Zhi Xin. She's willing."
Leng gestured toward Zhi Xin with her chin. "Right, little Zhi Xin?"
Zhi Xin's cheeks were still red, but she bit her lower lip, then gave a very slight nod.
Qin Feng: "..."
Why did things suddenly feel off?
Now that you've learned how this all started and what happened, shouldn't you be heading to the Styx Galaxy to demand answers from Karl?
Why were you all standing here discussing who he belonged to instead?
Had anyone asked his opinion? Hello!
"Hey! You two buns, let go of me!"
Soton's rough, booming voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the increasingly off-track exchange.
He was bound tightly with invisible energy ropes. He had struggled for ages without breaking free, and his tail thrashed irritably against the ground, leaving a patch of pits in the sand.
"And you, bird woman!"
Soton bared a row of sharp teeth at A Zhui, his dark yellow slit pupils blazing with resentment.
"Last time, your Uncle Crocodile was just careless and didn't dodge. If you've got what it takes, let's fight again!"
A Zhui had been holding Zhi Xin and soothing her. At those words, she raised an eyebrow and freed one hand to point at Soton's nose.
"Bring it on! You really think I'm afraid of you? I killed you once, and I can kill you a second time!"
Seeing a good chance to change the subject, Yan quickly stepped forward to back her up, adding just the right amount of fuel to the fire.
"Exactly, exactly. A Zhui, since this crocodile refuses to accept it, why not spar with him? Otherwise, he'll keep thinking he only lost because he was unlucky."
Her little calculations clicked away in her head.
As long as everyone's attention shifted to Soton, Leng wouldn't have time to needle her about Zhi Xin and Qin Feng anymore.
Leng stood to one side with her arms crossed, casting Yan a meaningful glance.
She knew exactly what Yan was up to, but the Angel Civilization had to maintain its dignity in front of outsiders. Making a scene by undermining each other would look bad, so she merely snorted and stopped pressing the matter.
But Qin Feng wasn't having it.
"Stop, stop, stop!"
He stepped in front of Soton and spread his arms, blocking the space between A Zhui and Soton.
"How did a conversation turn into a fight?"
He turned to face the four angels, his tone leaving little room for negotiation.
"This crocodile is my prisoner now. Shouldn't I get to decide what happens to him?"
"That's right."
Zhi Xin poked her head out of A Zhui's embrace, her cheeks still flushed. Her voice was soft and sweet, but unusually firm.
"My ideal man caught this crocodile. We should hear what he thinks first."
A Zhui looked down at the little angel in her arms in disbelief, her expression that of someone stabbed in the back.
"Little Zhi Xin, you've changed."
She clutched her chest in anguish.
"You're not even married yet, and you're already taking his side. I can't imagine what you'll be like after you marry him!"
"A Zhui!"
Zhi Xin protested bashfully again and buried her burning cheeks back in A Zhui's embrace.
A Zhui sighed helplessly, though she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips.
Qin Feng looked at the chaotic scene, then down at Soton, who was still lying on the ground baring his teeth at A Zhui, and let out a long sigh.
"Are you angels always this lively?"
"What's wrong with lively? It's better than being lifeless."
Qin Feng gave Yan a thoughtful look, then turned and tipped his chin at Soton.
"All right, stop yelling. Come with me, and I'll keep you fed."
Soton stopped struggling, a flicker of suspicion crossing his dark yellow slit pupils. "Really?"
"Really."
Qin Feng nodded.
He didn't explain exactly how he would keep him fed.
After all, the Giant Shadow Corps' laboratory tables would indeed have nutrient solutions and energy supplements ready. Soton wouldn't starve.
Whether he could endure what those experimental devices would put him through afterward was another matter.
Then he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The shadows beneath his feet churned in response, and two lean figures emerged silently from them.
"Take him back to the kingdom and hand him over to General Samo."
The two Shadowkhan nodded silently and stepped forward, each taking one of Soton's arms.
Before Soton could react, he was dragged down into the shadows and vanished.
The desert fell quiet again, leaving only the rustle of windblown sand.
Standing beside A Zhui, Zhi Xin reflected on everything that had just happened.
Her teacher really hadn't lied to her.
Her ideal man had so many secrets.
When those two Shadowkhan had emerged from the shadows, she had instinctively scanned them with her Eye of Insight.
Yet she had sensed no Dark Energy fluctuations from them at all.
They had no Dark Energy, yet possessed an ability similar to wormholes.
This meant that the source of their power was entirely different from any main biological system in the Known Universe.
That point alone was enough for her to write three papers.
Meanwhile, Qin Feng had turned around, his gaze drifting naturally over the four angels before finally settling on Zhi Xin.
He did have some ideas about this soft, sweet little angel.
After all, Zhi Xin possessed an exceptional talent for scientific research.
If he really could win her over and have the Giant Shadow Corps exchange technical knowledge with her, or even conduct joint research, their subsequent research would definitely advance by leaps and bounds.
He cleared his throat, sounding just casual enough as he asked, "Where are you planning to go next?"
Yan came back to herself and temporarily suppressed her complicated thoughts, her tone regaining the brisk efficiency of the Left-Wing Guardian.
Before you continue