Chapter 277 - 276

A crowd had surrounded the villa.

Gu Qi turned off the lights and crept behind the curtains to hide.

He stealthily peeked outside. "We couldn’t be getting robbed, could we? One, two, three..."

Gu Qi counted the number of people under his breath.

The high-hanging moon broke free from the dark clouds, its light spilling onto his deathly pale face.

"There are a lot of people here, and I’ll bet they’re not ordinary," Gu Qi said, turning his head with certainty. "My spiritual power might be low, but I’m extremely sensitive to its fluctuations."

Jian Yu gave him a thoughtful look and asked probingly, "Can you tell what their Levels are?"

"I’ll try." Gu Qi had his guard down around Jian Yu. Her voice was soft and sweet, with a gentle cadence reminiscent of a southerner, making it easy for people to relax around her.

He stared intently at the people below, completely unaware of the distinct Soul Power fluctuation emanating from his own body.

"Most of them are ordinary people. The two breaking down the door are probably Half-awakened, Level D and C. The rest aren’t high-Level either, B at the most. But the two in the hovercar... I get the feeling they’re Awakeners."

A chill ran down Gu Qi’s back. He turned around stiffly.

The moment he turned, he saw four pairs of eyes staring at him like a wolf pack.

Gu Qi swallowed nervously. "Wh-what is it?"

Jian Yu’s eyes curved into crescents. "You’re quite amazing."

She thought she could sense the aura of a Soul Beast on him.

Stroking the red thread on her wrist, Jian Yu narrowed her eyes as the realization belatedly hit her.

’The Fuyun Red only reacts to Contracted Beasts and Soul Beasts. How could I have forgotten that?’

’But why would Gu Qi claim to be an F-level Half-awakened?’

’Maybe he doesn’t even know himself. After all, Gu Qi did say he was taken in.’

As her mind raced, Jian Yu looked up at the others, who were also lost in thought.

She looked up so quickly that she tugged at her hair.

"Sss," Jian Yu winced, raising a hand to her head.

"Don’t fidget." Ling Yanzhi snapped out of his thoughts. His eyelids lowered, and the fingers braiding her hair loosened their grip slightly.

He was sitting cross-legged behind her, his fingertips combing through her wavy hair.

Xi Yu’s hazel eyes studied Gu Qi with a quiet intensity, like a lone wolf sizing up its prey. "You’re very strange."

His voice was somber and sinister, his gaze cold and cloying.

Gu Qi’s breathing grew heavier.

He held it in for a moment before blurting out, "The point is the people downstairs! Haven’t you noticed they’re breaking down the door? They’re trying to kick you while you’re down!"

A sinister smile touched Xi Yu’s lips. "I’m not afraid."

"..." Gu Qi’s legs gave out, and he sank to the floor.

Jian Yu patted Xi Yu’s head. "Don’t scare him. We can deal with this later."

"Oh." The look in Xi Yu’s eyes instantly cleared.

He touched his head, then sniffed his palm, feeling like it smelled faintly sweet after Jian Yu had patted it.

Gu Qi had no time for their bizarre antics. Watching the door, which was about to give way, he struggled back to his feet.

He activated the alarm and deployed the backup doors.

There were actually three of them!

’That should hold them off until the Star Police arrive,’ he thought.

Gu Qi muttered, "This team would’ve fallen apart long ago without me."

Sheng Yue didn’t stop Gu Qi’s furtive scrambling, remaining calmly seated the entire time.

His blue eyes were cold, his thin lips pressed into a line, and a flicker of imperceptible exasperation crossed his face.

Jian Yu’s five senses grew sharper with her bloodline’s awakening, allowing her to notice everyone’s subtle expressions even in the dark.

She was inexplicably amused by Sheng Yue’s human-like micro-expression and unconsciously gave Yin Jiu’s fur a couple of strokes.

Yin Jiu let out a soft purr, tilting its head back with eyes full of adoration.

Gu Qi peeked through a crack in the curtains. "I have no idea who they are. Banging on our door in the middle of the night... you’d think they’d be worried about us calling the police."

’I don’t suspect Admiral Yan anymore,’ he thought.

’Admiral Yan isn’t that stupid. He wouldn’t dare chase us all the way to the Imperial Capital Star.’

Ling Yanzhi’s lips twitched. "Why don’t you just let them in and find out?"

His fingers moved deftly, tucking the last strand of hair behind Jian Yu’s ear.

"Stay still, it’s not done yet," he said, a smile in his voice.

Jian Yu sat obediently, letting him work.

The hairstyle gradually took shape in Ling Yanzhi’s hands. He gathered her hair into a fluffy bun on each side, letting them droop slightly like the soft ears of a lop-eared rabbit.

He deliberately left a few wisps of hair to frame her face, making her look even more spirited when they swayed.

Gu Qi was dumbfounded.

For some reason, a single word popped into his head: ’domestic.’

’This whole vibe feels a little off,’ he thought.

"Ayan, use this," Xi Yu said, producing a small pearl hair clip.

Ling Yanzhi took it and used it to secure the buns.

He gave the top of Jian Yu’s head a gentle pat. "All done."

Ling Yanzhi looked up. "Turn on the lights. Let’s welcome our guests."

Gu Qi asked in awe, "Aren’t you afraid those people outside were sent by Admiral Yan to capture you?"

’We almost didn’t make it off Emperor Wolf Star,’ he thought, his heart still pounding from the memory.

Sheng Yue’s voice was crisp and cold. "We’re on the Imperial Capital Star now."

Gu Qi’s mind automatically translated: ’Who on the Imperial Capital Star doesn’t know who we are? What’s there to be afraid of?’

’Makes sense.’

Xi Yu’s tentacles flew. With a series of clicks, all the lights switched on.

His actions were his answer to Gu Qi’s question.

Gu Qi finally got it.

First, he had been scaring himself for no reason.

Second, Sheng Yue and the others had clearly recovered completely and weren’t the least bit worried that their visitors had malicious intentions.

Gu Qi finally relaxed. ’Well, they should have said so earlier!’

BANG.

The three backup doors were smashed through one by one, but the Star Police still hadn’t arrived.

But Gu Qi wasn’t panicking. If the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up.

Worried that they’d be left without a door and he wouldn’t be able to sleep, he actually took the initiative to open it himself.

The moment the door opened, more than thirty people poured in.

They fanned out in rows, holding assault rifles.

Gu Qi quickly ducked behind the sofa Jian Yu was sitting on.

’If a fight breaks out, Ling Yanzhi and the others might not protect me, but they’ll definitely protect Jian Yu.’

’Most importantly, Jian Yu is a powerhouse herself. Her ability to kill from a distance is second to none.’

Gu Qi pricked up his ears. Silence.

He peeked his head up and saw the intruders meekly setting down their firearms, their expressions stiff.

They even seemed to subconsciously move to kneel, but stopped mid-crouch, frozen by a single cold glare from Sheng Yue.

Even Gu Qi, who wasn’t from the Imperial Capital Star, knew who Sheng Yue and his companions were. These people certainly did too.

For a moment, he forgot his fear, feeling only a mix of envy, awe, and jealousy.

Then again, not everyone was brave enough to start a rebellion in their twilight years like Admiral Yan.

Gu Qi breathed a sigh of relief.

Jian Yu blinked, then suddenly leaned down to ask him, "Do you feel uncomfortable?"

Gu Qi, still half-crouched, met Jian Yu’s big, round eyes and shook his head in confusion. "I’m fine. This position isn’t too bad, though my legs are a little numb."

Jian Yu nodded. "Then why don’t you get up?"

"Okay." Gu Qi patted his knees and sat down nearby.

Jian Yu looked away.

’It seems the pressure from a Level 3S has no effect on Gu Qi,’ she mused.

Outside, a slickly dressed man stepped out of the hovercar.

He was flanked by two others.

One of them bowed slightly, his tone a mix of unease and suggestion. "Young Master Ka, these people just moved into the district today. I haven’t had time to run a full background check. I think we should feel them out first, or let me make some inquiries, just so we don’t accidentally provoke someone we can’t afford to offend."