As Phantylia's power faded from within her body, Tingyun's eyes gradually regained their clarity.
Ugh, my head hurts. What exactly happened?
It seemed she had been carrying out official duties when she saw someone who looked exactly like her...
At that thought, she jolted awake.
Someone was trying to impersonate her!?
She looked to the side and saw Ji Yuan watching her with a concerned expression.
Tingyun was touched.
Ji Yuan still cared deeply about her.
But this was not the time to think about that. Tingyun hurriedly said anxiously to Ji Yuan, "Ji Yuan, s-someone is impersonating me and p-planning to harm the Celestial Ark."
Tingyun was a typical Celestial Ark Native. She would still place the Celestial Ark's interests first.
"I know. Tingyun, don't panic."
Ji Yuan nodded seriously.
"Mm..." Tingyun nodded. She then looked around and discovered that she was in a completely bare room, with chains binding her hands and feet.
She did not think Ji Yuan had tied her up. Looking at him, she asked, "What exactly is going on here?"
Remembering something, Tingyun asked Ji Yuan nervously, "You weren't captured too, were you?"
She carefully inspected Ji Yuan, worried that he might have been hurt.
"No. I came here to find you."
Ji Yuan shook his head.
Still unconvinced, Tingyun carefully examined him from head to toe. Only after confirming that he was unharmed did she finally relax.
Then Ji Yuan began explaining to Tingyun, "The one who abducted you and replaced your identity this time was Destruction Lord Phantylia."
At those words, Tingyun was so startled that she fell to the floor.
Destruction Lord Phantylia.
That title was renowned throughout the entire sea of stars.
Wherever the Anti-Matter Legion passed, civilizations were destroyed and all life withered away.
She was an existence as terrifying as the Abundance Fiends.
Tingyun had never imagined that she would be the one replacing her.
Her hands turned icy cold.
Feeling Tingyun's hands grow cold, Ji Yuan quickly reached out and clasped them in his own. He tried to pass the warmth of his palms to her, to make her less afraid.
Feeling that warmth, much of Tingyun's worry and fear faded away.
"How did you find me?" Tingyun remembered something and asked Ji Yuan, "Did the General come? If he has arrived, we can fight Phantylia."
Only an Emanator could deal with an Emanator.
On the Luofu Starfaring Vessel, only General Jing Yuan could face her.
"No, the General isn't here."
Ji Yuan shook his head.
"In fact, Phantylia's disguise is flawless. No one else has discovered her true identity yet; they all believe she is the real Tingyun. After discovering it, I didn't dare expose her either. I was worried that if I told anyone, the entire Celestial Ark army might be wiped out. So these past few days, I dealt with Phantylia while secretly investigating where you were being held. Then I came here to find you and make sure you were safe."
As he said this, his expression eased slightly.
"I found you. That proves the Lord of Destruction isn't so invincible after all."
Ji Yuan smiled.
If Phantylia behaved as she normally did, she would never have allowed him and Tingyun to come into contact. Now that he had met Tingyun, it meant that unless Phantylia killed him, she could no longer keep her secret hidden.
He had won. He had already won.
Tingyun froze at his words.
She stared blankly at Ji Yuan, who was smiling like a child, and murmured, "Aren't you the one most afraid of risking your life? H-how could you do something like this? When danger comes, shouldn't you avoid it? Especially when this is against a Lord of Destruction. It's practically certain death."
Just like last time, this completely did not fit Ji Yuan's character.
He was the cautious sort who could set up countless defense systems even in a residence near the Cloud Knights, yet now he had done something so dangerous and insane.
There were clearly safer options, yet he had chosen the most dangerous one.
Ji Yuan reached out and flicked Tingyun on the forehead. Smiling, he said, "Before trouble arrives, of course you should do your best to avoid it. But when it truly comes, no matter how many problems you face, you have to do your best to solve them."
"But coming to find me was dangerous. If you could, you should have returned to the Celestial Ark and sought the General."
"So I was supposed to sit by and watch something happen to you? I may be timid, but I'm not so cowardly that I'd casually abandon a girl I like."
Ji Yuan spread his hands as he spoke.
Yes.
When he saw Tingyun just now and felt the excitement in his heart, Ji Yuan confirmed something to himself.
He liked Tingyun.
Whether it was because of her beauty or her personality, Ji Yuan simply felt that he liked this girl very much.
He had to save her.
No matter the cost.
When Tingyun heard Ji Yuan say it aloud, she froze as well. Then a shy expression gradually appeared on her face.
The most cautious and timid person had spoken the boldest words, while the Fox Folk woman who loved teasing others displayed the most bashful expression.
An impulse rose in both their hearts. Neither knew who moved first, but they embraced each other tightly.
Ji Yuan could fully feel Tingyun's body against his. Her soft body was so alluring. He held her tightly, wanting to knead her into his very being.
The feeling made Tingyun let out a soft "Mmm..."
"This little woman is delicate and frail, unlike you with your strong body. You must be gentle with me."
Her words sounded like a plea for mercy, but that sweet, husky tone only seemed to kindle Ji Yuan's desire even further.
Tingyun wrapped her arms around Ji Yuan's neck, raised one foot in its high heel, and pressed her lips to his.
This was her first kiss, and it was also Ji Yuan's first kiss across both his past and present lives.
Tingyun's movements grew even more frenzied, wild and intense. Her kiss carried the unrestrained desire of a beast, as though she wanted to leave an indelible mark upon Ji Yuan's lips.
Fortunately, Ji Yuan retained some reason. After a burst of urgent kissing, he released Tingyun.
A string of system notifications rang out in his mind.
Ji Yuan examined them carefully and discovered that three notifications had appeared at once.
You passionately kissed a corpse. The system is astonished by your boldness and has specially rewarded you with one forged corpse, capable of imitating a corpse of any race or identity. Your charm had actually attracted the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission. Overwhelmed by your charm, she voluntarily offered her first kiss. The system rewarded you with one Light-Speed Star-skiff. You passionately kissed an exceptionally beautiful widow. In recognition of your Cao Cao tendencies, the system has specially rewarded you with Stamina +3. (Without a good body, how can you be a blond-haired stud?)
Seeing those three notifications, Ji Yuan's expression darkened somewhat.
What the hell were these three?
Was Tingyun's future like Schrödinger's cat?
Was her future uncertain?
Still, at least she was not always a corpse. A huge weight finally lifted from Ji Yuan's heart.
If all his efforts changed nothing, that would be true despair.
At least there was still hope now.
But looking at those three messages, Ji Yuan still felt speechless.
Each one was more ridiculous than the last.
The first two were manageable. A corpse was the usual situation anyway. But the reward was truly valuable. A forged corpse could make his plan far easier, safer, and more reliable.
The second referred to the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission. Did that mean Tingyun would succeed Yukong as the Helm Master of the Sky-Faring Commission in a hundred years?
Considering her identity and status, Ji Yuan felt that was quite reasonable.
The reward was excellent as well.
A light-speed Star Skiff would be perfect for helping Tingyun escape.
He had originally planned to find a way to obtain a Star Skiff, but that carried great risk. Now that he had a ready-made one, it could not be more convenient.
But what the hell was that widow one about?
How had she become a widow?
Oh, right. I should have been dead by then.
So Tingyun would become a beautiful widow.
Although he wanted to complain about the system, Ji Yuan set that complaint aside after seeing the reward.
Stamina plus three. His strength had increased.
That would give him a few more chances of surviving in the future.
At that moment, he could not help thinking of Sushang, that widow.
Could that widow be referring to me?
The thought flashed through Ji Yuan's mind, but he immediately laughed at himself.
She was his biological younger sister. How could that be possible?
He set the matter aside.
Rubbing her waist, which Ji Yuan had nearly squeezed in two, Tingyun asked him:
"Ji Yuan, what was with the way you kept your distance from me back then?"
She had wanted to investigate it before, but Ji Yuan had seemed so conflicted that she could not get anything out of him. Now that they had confirmed their relationship, Tingyun asked him directly.
What exactly was going on with you?
At that, Ji Yuan's expression darkened slightly.
He answered with complete honesty, "I actually received a prophecy. It said I might die in less than a hundred years. So, to prevent anything from happening to me, I've always been cautious and afraid of danger."
"So that's how it was." Hearing Ji Yuan say that, Tingyun finally felt relieved.
As long as he did not dislike her, it was fine.
She reached out and returned the flick Ji Yuan had given her earlier.
"Even the prophecies of the Divination Commission's Master Diviner cannot be guaranteed to be one hundred percent accurate. The prophecy you found might not come true either," Tingyun said to Ji Yuan. "Besides, a hundred years may be short for Celestial Ark Natives, but in other worlds, it is already an entire person's lifetime."
"And being able to spend that long with you is already enough to satisfy me."
"Hey, hey, hey. I'm not done living yet."
Ji Yuan rolled his eyes at Tingyun.
Tingyun gritted her teeth.
When it was time to be romantic, you suddenly decided to stay rational.
Why was dating you so troublesome?
Preparations Before the Escape
Before you continue