[At this moment, Jingliu spoke first, and her opening remark was nothing short of shocking.]
["They all say you're a lecherous and debauched monk, but you don't seem that way to me."]
[You'd met straightforward people before, but never someone this blunt. You couldn't help but pause in surprise, while Igor and Jing Yuan, sitting nearby, twitched at the corners of their mouths and quickly pretended to sip tea or admire the street view.]
[Even Xueyi, usually so cold and indifferent, couldn't suppress a faint smile.]
[You shot Xueyi a glance, silently making a mental note to properly "educate" her later that night, then turned back to Jingliu with an unbothered expression.]
["Perhaps they're not wrong. This humble monk practices the Joyful Buddha Dharma and specializes in guiding female benefactors through dual cultivation." Since she was being so direct, you saw no reason to hide it either.]
[Ding. A dagger made entirely of ice embedded itself into the table in front of you.]
["I don't care what you do with others, but if you dare set your sights on me…" Jingliu's voice was frosty with threat. "I'll cut off your dick."]
[Every man present tensed up at her words and the accompanying gesture.]
[You retracted your earlier assessment of her—this wasn't just free-spirited boldness or world-weariness. No, there was a bandit-like ruthlessness to her.]
[Still, you had to make your stance clear.]
["I've never forced anyone. Every exchange between me and my partners has been consensual—fair and just. I enjoy their bodies; they receive extended youth and longevity from me." You spoke without a trace of shame or hesitation.]
[Xueyi, listening nearby, nearly rolled her eyes.]
["Hmph! Better be true!" Jingliu flicked her wrist, and the ice dagger dissipated, leaving only a deep scar on the stone table.]
["So, why did you come looking for me?"]
[You poured a cup of tea and slid it toward Jingliu before succinctly explaining the situation.]
[Jingliu's brow furrowed.
"Those damned Antimatter Legion bastards again!"]
[Ever since Lan stopped focusing exclusively on hunting down the Abundance, the Galaxy Rangers had shifted their priority to punishing evildoers—they'd essentially become cosmic vigilantes.]
[The Antimatter Legion, with their indiscriminate slaughter, had naturally become the Rangers' prime target.]
[After a moment's thought, Jingliu turned to Igor.
"Wiping out the Legion's scum was already part of our mission. We'll help."]
[Igor immediately stood up, overjoyed.
"Thank you! On behalf of everyone on Jarilo-VI, I'm truly grateful!"]
[You raised a hand to stop them.
"Don't rush just yet."]
[When all eyes turned to you in curiosity, you continued slowly.
"The Antimatter Legion's actions on Jarilo-VI are… unusual. Normally, Nanook would first dispatch the 'Iron Tomb' to cripple the planet's advanced technology, then overwhelm it with an unstoppable military force. Total annihilation of a civilization never takes this long."]
[Then you looked at Igor.
"Jarilo-VI has been resisting the Legion's invasion for years now, hasn't it?"]
[Igor thought back and nodded. From the time he left his homeworld to compete in martial tournaments and give speeches, years had passed—yet every update he received spoke of his homeland's desperate, ongoing struggle.]
[The Antimatter Legion, hailed as one of the universe's three great calamities, would never suffer from a lack of troops.]
[If the Architects were the reason for this prolonged resistance, then why did they eventually abandon Jarilo-VI? Giving up halfway contradicted Preservation's very ideals.
And unlike the IPC—neglected by both sides—the Architects were Qlipoth's direct followers. In critical moments, they should've been able to summon the Amber Lord's hammer, just as the Xianzhou could call upon their Aeon.]
[All signs pointed to one conclusion: Jarilo-VI, this seemingly ordinary planet, held unfathomable depths.]
[You spread your hands.
"So the issue is clear—someone doesn't want Jarilo-VI to fall too quickly. They're treating this war as a social experiment, slowly tightening the pressure, watching the civilization and society crumble bit by bit…"]
["And as far as I know, only one Emanator of Destruction has such… peculiar tastes—Collapse."]
[After hearing your analysis, Jingliu frowned.
"If an Emanator is pulling the strings, this complicates things. I'm confident in defeating him, but killing him is another matter. If he escapes and returns for revenge after we leave…"]
[Given his behavioral patterns, Collapse was clearly a strategist. The likelihood of him retreating after an initial defeat only to return with a vengeance was high. If they were going to help, they couldn't leave behind such a threat.]
[You smiled faintly, pressing your palms together.
"Leave him to this humble monk."]
[Noticing Jing Yuan's hesitation, you guessed his concerns and added, "I already have a personal grudge against Nanook. My involvement here is my own choice—it has nothing to do with the Alliance."]
[Jing Yuan wore a bitter smile. As he listened to your casual discussion, he felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. His friend's homeworld was under attack, yet bound by his duties as a Cloud Knight captain, he could do nothing.]
[This sense of invisible restraint weighed heavily on him.
In contrast, the Galaxy Rangers' way of life—unbound by rules, striking down evil with a clear conscience—filled him with longing. For the first time, he wondered if joining the Cloud Knights had been a mistake. Perhaps the Rangers were where he truly belonged.]
[You continued, "However, to prevent Collapse from noticing the trap and fleeing prematurely, I won't join the initial battle. You'll need to lure him out first."]
[Jingliu nodded firmly. "Consider it done."]
[The group spent some time finalizing the details, only dispersing once a concrete plan was in place.]
[Your gaze lingered on Jingliu's retreating figure, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on your lips.]
[She wants to cut off my dick? How amusing. Let's see who conquers who first.]
[Her provocative declaration had only stoked your interest.
It seemed the tangled threads of fate between you two were far from severed.]
[Then, with a smirk, you turned to Xueyi, who stood motionless as a statue.
"Let's go. Time to head back."
That woman lit a fire in me. Guess I'll have to vent it on you tonight.]
[Feeling the implication in your gaze, Xueyi shivered involuntarily.]
[But then you paused mid-step.
"Oh, and remember to call your sister over. A family should stay together, don't you think~?"]
[A flicker of resistance flashed in Xueyi's eyes—but she didn't dare refuse.
"...Yes."]
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