[Is that thing even edible?!][My entire worldview is collapsing today.][Is he seriously not going to be poisoned by that?][I support him. That move just now? Mad respect. He's a real man.][Come on, did you forget how he treated the princess before? Just a couple of moves and suddenly he's redeemed?]
After solving her hunger issue, Mu Qingyun looked up at the small screen hovering in front of her, where comments continued to bicker endlessly. She gave the coast a quick once-over to memorize the terrain, then turned and headed back toward the cave where her team had taken shelter.
Back inside, both Su and Xiong Ruoyou looked up in unison as she returned."You're back?" Su asked.
"Mm," she replied casually, walking to the same spot she had rested in earlier.
The atmosphere chilled once again—awkward and cold silence stretching between them.
Trying to break the tension, Xiong Ruoyou suddenly spoke up, "Hey, do you guys know who the First Commander of the Military Academy is?"
"I do.""Mm.""…I don't," Mu Qingyun answered honestly.
Three stunned faces turned to her instantly.
After all, who joins a military academy trial and doesn't even know who their top commander is? It was almost offensive.
[Did I just hear what I think I heard? He doesn't even know our First Commander?!][I can't believe this. Any goodwill I had toward him is gone. What kind of arrogant fool doesn't even know that?][Actually, I respect it. Punches the planet's top talents and doesn't recognize the planet's pride. Is there anyone more blissfully ignorant than this guy?][Wow, he just singlehandedly lost all his new fans again. Truly amazing.]
Mu Qingyun glanced at the barrage of judgment on the screen and nearly laughed aloud. So not knowing someone was a crime now? People of this era were truly strange.
Ordinary people, with mouths louder than emperors. How ridiculous.
"First Commander Su Qiluo is only eighteen this year," Xiong Ruoyou began, eyes sparkling with admiration. "He's the top in both combat ability and spiritual power. He maxed out his mental strength at fifteen and even killed the Insect Queen. He's one of the rare double-ability users—he's our planet's pride."
Planet's pride, huh?
Mu Qingyun nodded slightly, signaling that she understood.
"I came to the military trial just to see General Su," Xiong Ruoyou added dreamily. "Even if I only get a glimpse of him from afar, I'll be satisfied."
Hearing that, Su turned his head slightly and glanced at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
[That's my goal too! I just want to see General Su once in my life.][Wake up, will you? You clearly haven't seen him when he's scolding people. He doesn't need a single curse word to make you cry.][That's okay. As long as he's willing to scold me, I'd happily be yelled at to death!][Excuse me? You're calling him your husband? He's mine!][Alright, alright, give it a rest.][My goal is to be like him. One day, I'll be a man like Su Qiluo!][Yeah right. He became First Commander at fifteen, tops both categories, and has dual powers—light and water. Dream on, dude.][If only you hadn't eaten so many peanuts, you wouldn't be drunk on delusions right now.]
As she read more of the comments, Mu Qingyun's curiosity toward this unseen General Su grew. She admired strength, after all—and judging by what these people said, Su Qiluo was worth looking into.
By evening, the four teammates were spread out in the corners of the cave. Apart from Xiong Ruoyou, the other three kept their eyes open, alert. No one truly dared to sleep deeply on the first night.
Mu Qingyun kept a careful watch on them as she rested her back against the cave wall. She lit a small flame in her right hand, just enough to keep her body warm. Nights on the island were bone-chilling.
"Mu Qingyun?"
A weak voice called beside her. She turned and saw Su, who had silently crept to her side, shivering pitifully.
Her brows furrowed—this was the second time he had approached her without her noticing.
"What is it?" she asked, raising a brow.
"I'm freezing... c-can I borrow some of your fire?"
He hugged himself tightly, trembling like a helpless animal. The image reminded her, suddenly, of her younger brother from her past life. As a child, he had been poisoned and left with a frail body. During winters, they had hidden in abandoned temples, and her brother had shivered just like this—pressing into her arms for warmth.
"…Come closer," she said, eyes softening.
She raised her flaming right hand and placed it between them, the gentle warmth pushing back the cave's chill. The two sat side by side, silent yet comforted, wrapped in flickering light.
The next morning, Mu Qingyun awoke naturally, her body still governed by the discipline of her past life. Even before dawn, her eyes had opened. Years of waking early to handle imperial duties had formed an unshakable habit.
She leaned back against the cold stone wall and closed her eyes again, trying to relax. But sleep wouldn't come. Her thoughts wandered instead.
[Wow, this ugly guy's already awake? Am I reading my clock wrong?][Nope, you're right. But like... who watches this early in the morning?][I came to check on the Princess, and figured I might as well see if the ugly guy who hit her is dead yet.][+1]
Mu Qingyun scrolled through the comments without much emotion. She was starting to understand the audience. These were bored people with too much free time and nowhere to direct their energy. Their curses and mockery weren't personal—they were just entertainment.
A few lines of text. If she wanted to read, she'd read. If not, she'd ignore them. It was all meaningless noise.
"C-cold… so cold…"
A quiet murmur reached her ears. She turned her head to see Su once again inching closer, trembling visibly.
Instinctively, she wrapped an arm around him and lit her flame once more, drawing it close to his chest. The warmth radiated between them, and Su's shaking body relaxed almost immediately, resting gently against her.
[Wait, what am I seeing?! Ugly guy and that skinny twig are cuddling?!][What is this? What are they doing?][Is it weird that I... kind of ship it now?][No, get out.][Get out and take your weird ship with you.]
Mu Qingyun had been idly skimming the screen, but suddenly, a soft rustling reached her ears from outside the cave—like something crawling slowly across the ground.
"Shhh…"
A sharp, piercing screech echoed from outside, loud enough to rattle the cave walls and sting her eardrums.
"What was that?!" Xiong Ruoyou jolted awake, groggy and stunned, staring at the cave entrance.
Even Fan Xuanye, who had been silently meditating, looked up with sharp, alert eyes from behind his mask.
"Shh. Say nothing. Hide behind me," Mu Qingyun whispered firmly, stepping protectively in front of Su.
Su's water ability was rare—but not useful in direct combat. Compared to fire, it was practically ornamental.
Su looked at the slim figure in front of him, eyes flashing with a flicker of shock.
So many years had passed, yet no one had ever stood in front of him like this.