Chapter 368: Reinforcements Arrive

Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Reinforcements Arrive

They moved in unison to protect Ye Ming.

Ye Ming was the leader they had chosen, just as he had once chosen them. They could not betray that trust.

They would die for him without regret.

Hearing their words, Ye Ming’s eyes stung, but his voice remained steady. "Hold on for three more minutes. Our people are almost here."

Ye Ming had no intention of letting his subordinates die in vain. Before following Captain Xing, he had secretly used his chip to send his coordinates to Leo, telling him to bring reinforcements quickly.

And now, that support was on its way.

Hearing this, the soldiers’ fighting spirit reignited, and they fought with renewed ferocity.

Captain Xing couldn’t understand it. Just moments ago, the enemy squadron had looked completely drained, yet now they were fighting with renewed vigor. Even when their Mechas were shot down and couldn’t get back up, the pilots would transform into their beast forms to hinder the advance of his own Mechas.

Three minutes later, a dozen hovercars appeared, surrounding the island. As Beastmen jumped out one after another, Captain Xing knew it was over.

But that wasn’t all. A Divine Bird, like a phoenix reborn, descended from the heavens, bathed in sunlight. Trailing long, iridescent tail feathers, it let out a sharp cry and spread its wide, downy, orange-and-white wings as it landed.

And perched atop the Divine Bird was a Female.

It should have been a divine spectacle, but in that instant, Captain Xing felt as if he were seeing the Grim Reaper himself.

He recognized the Divine Bird as Mu Tangfeng, a 2S Spiritual Power Beastman from the Mu Family.

As for the Female, he had no idea what trick she was pulling, but the plants on the ground suddenly shot up, and several vines wrapped around his Mechas’ limbs, holding them fast.

’Since when had the Empire’s Females evolved to this point?’

’It’s over, it’s over, it’s really all over...’

This was the only thought left in Captain Xing’s mind.

The soldiers on Captain Xing’s side, whose Mechas had been ensnared, sensed something was wrong and looked up as well.

They had never seen such a miraculous sight—and from a Female, no less.

Everyone was dumbstruck. Even those who weren’t ensnared stood frozen in place.

Ye Ming’s Mecha squad also held their fire, preventing any friendly fire incidents.

The Divine Bird landed with a magnificent flourish, folding its brilliant, sleek feathers. Ye Ming immediately disembarked from his Mecha and ran over anxiously. "Lanlan, why are you here?"

Shi Lan dismounted from Mu Tangfeng, her eyes immediately scanning Ye Ming. Seeing his gauze bandages soaked with fresh blood and the new cuts on his face and neck, she was filled with worry. "How can you ask me that? Look at yourself! Your bandages are soaked through again."

Just then, Mu Tangfeng transformed into his human form and approached them, raising an eyebrow. "Why no greeting for me, Eldest Prince?"

He looked Ye Ming up and down, noting all the blood, and let out a "tsk." "Sigh, now’s not the time to be a hero. Leave the rest to us."

As he spoke, Jiang Xia and Yan Huoshui appeared behind him.

Ever since learning Shi Lan had returned to the Capital Star safe and sound, they had all hastened their journey back. They had only just reunited with her when they heard she was going to reinforce Ye Ming, so naturally, they came along to protect her.

Jiang Xia shoved Mu Tangfeng away from Shi Lan’s side. "You show-off," he grumbled. "Did you have to make such a flashy entrance? You left nothing for the rest of us."

Yan Huoshui shot him a cold smirk, his red eyes icy.

But this wasn’t the time for bickering. With a shared understanding, the three of them had Ye Ming fall back to rest while they led the reinforcements into battle to deal with Captain Xing’s men.

Shi Lan led Ye Ming to a safe area and began to re-dress his wounds. Leo approached sheepishly, scratching his head. "Your Highness," he whispered, "I told Miss Shi Lan, but she found out you were hurt and insisted on coming. If I didn’t bring her, she was going to strangle me."

Leo hadn’t expected Shi Lan to be so perceptive. After getting the other Females settled, all he did was glance at his chip a few too many times. His expression shifted, and just as he left soldiers to guard them and was about to slip away with an excuse, she grabbed him and started questioning him relentlessly.

He’d accidentally let it all slip.

Ye Ming frowned, his eyes darkening. "Leo, don’t lie. My wife is a Female. How could you, a male, be hurt by her?"

Leo’s gaze drifted to the vines still stubbornly wrapped around the enemy Mechas in the distance, and he looked back at Ye Ming with a long-suffering expression.

’Your Highness, have you forgotten what your wife is capable of?’

’She’s the only 3S Female in existence who has awakened a plant-control Talent Skill!’

’He was just a lowly B-rank; he couldn’t win. He just couldn’t win...’

As if sensing the resentment in Leo’s eyes, Shi Lan cleared her throat, looking a little embarrassed herself.

’She’d only used the vines to scare him a little; she never actually intended to strangle him.’

She spoke up to explain. "Ye Ming, don’t blame Leo. I’m the one who forced him. Besides, he didn’t really bring me; I came with Mu Tangfeng and the others."

Leo nodded vigorously.

Ye Ming wasn’t really angry with Leo; he knew the man had done his best. He changed the subject, "Have you sent anyone to search for the Chao Si?"

The dozen or so Chao Si that had escaped were extremely powerful. They had to be found quickly to prevent them from harming the residents of the Capital Star.

Relieved that His Highness wasn’t pressing the matter, Leo immediately reported, "Your Highness, I’ve already dispatched teams with Insect Clan detectors to search, but there’s been nothing so far."

Ye Ming nodded. "Good work. I’ll double your bonus next time."

"Yes, of course! Thank you, Your Highness!"

Leo beamed. ’Things are different now,’ he thought. ’I have a fiancée. I have to work even harder to earn money and provide for my family.’

After his reply, he saw Ye Ming and Shi Lan in their own intimate world again. Deciding not to be a third wheel, he quietly backed away, turning to watch the distant battle, which had become completely one-sided. He clapped his hands in approval.

After Shi Lan finished bandaging his arm and shoulder, she began to disinfect the cuts on his face with an antiseptic solution. Ye Ming felt her gentle touch, and his tense expression softened. His eyes filled with warmth as he gazed at her with deep affection. "Thank you, Lanlan. But please, don’t be so reckless next time. On a real battlefield, anything can happen. I can’t guarantee that I’ll always be there to protect you."

"No. You will."

Shi Lan was certain of it. "I don’t believe for a second that you wouldn’t be able to protect me."

She looked at him, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled. Ye Ming was left speechless. It was true. If danger came, he would protect her even if it cost him his own life.

But his real point was that battlefields are simply too dangerous; he couldn’t bear the thought of her being hurt in any way.

Then again, Shi Lan valued her own life. She wasn’t an unreasonable person.

As if sensing the disapproval and worry in his eyes, she squeezed his hand and said earnestly, "Don’t worry. I can protect myself, and I’ll do my best to avoid situations like this."

"This time was different. I was worried the Insect Clan might affect your spiritual power. I couldn’t rest easy, so I followed."

At that thought, she couldn’t help but make him check his spiritual power collapse value again.