The storm is brewing, and the wind fills the tower.
Under the warm rays of the morning sun, a rugged off-road vehicle slowly made its way toward a small town in Zhou Lan.
As it approached a checkpoint, four Ghost Officers stood guard.
The vehicle came to a halt, and after presenting the necessary documents, the Ghost Officer examining them suddenly widened his eyes. As he returned the documents, his gaze briefly caught sight of the tall, elderly man in the backseat, dressed in a sharp suit with an air of arrogance.
The four Ghost Officers immediately stood at attention and saluted!
The vehicle passed through the checkpoint and continued toward the town.
Soon, a massive spatial gate, dozens of meters tall, came into view, standing at the heart of the town.
Twenty thousand elite Ghost Officers stood ready, stationed around the spatial gate.
Looking down from above, the streets, rooftops, hills, and trees were filled with a sea of people, all solemn and full of fighting spirit!
They had already received word of Jie Congrong's arrival. As his vehicle slowly stopped in front of the spatial gate, their composed exteriors masked the storm of excitement brewing within.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the storm is brewing, and the wind fills the tower," Jie Congrong declared as he stepped out of the vehicle. "We have no time to waste."
"You know the purpose of my visit—to eliminate the internal threat."
"I'm a man of action, not words. Now," Jie Congrong tilted his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds, and stepped into the spatial gate, "Kill!"
"Kill!" Instantly, the town was engulfed in a tidal wave of battle cries.
The spatial gate in Zhou Lan had been open for five years, and they had been stationed there for just as long. From an initial force of forty thousand, only a little over twenty thousand remained.
The deaths of comrades in countless conflicts had built up a deep reservoir of anger within them.
Countless Ghost Officers surged into the spatial gate.
Now was the time to unleash their fury and seek vengeance.
At the same time, in Fuyu, Ghost Officer Commander Pei Jun received the news. With a wave of his hand, thirty thousand Ghost Officers, already prepared and brimming with determination, entered the spatial gate in an orderly yet formidable manner.
They had to eliminate the enemies lurking within the spatial gates, which posed a threat to Huaxia, before disaster struck.
This was a moment of do-or-die.
...
Noon.
Xiao Hanhan (Little Cutie) woke up in a warm embrace, lifting her head slightly to meet the gentle, deep gaze of Su Ze.
Uesugi Akizuki's innocent eyes sparkled, her lips curving into a happy smile as she said in her simple way, "Want to be naughty!"
"...No being naughty."
"Want to be naughty!" Uesugi Akizuki clung to him, her expression stubborn.
"...Alright."
As their lips met, Xiao Hanhan melted into a soft, tingling sensation.
Su Ze's face flushed, a mix of exasperation and shyness as he sat up.
Yesterday, Uesugi Akizuki had been insistent on being naughty, and he was worried she might turn into a little pervert.
Xiao Hanhan, now satisfied, happily waved her arms on the bed, "Hug."
The words 'naughty' and 'hug' had been taught to her by Situ Jiajia. Before, she would never have made such requests of Su Ze.
But after yesterday's events, these words had opened up a whole new world for her.
"Adorable," Su Ze couldn't help but be charmed. He leaned down, gently pinching her soft cheeks, and picked her up.
Uesugi Akizuki clung to him like a koala, happily nestling her head against his chest.
As Su Ze was helping her put on her shoes, Xiao Hanhan, with her face buried in his chest, suddenly murmured, "Don't leave."
Su Ze was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to remember.
After their last separation and reunion, she had asked the same question, but he hadn't been able to give her an answer at the time, unsure if he would have to leave her again.
"I won't leave. We'll always be together," Su Ze whispered softly.
It was a promise, one he would strive to keep with all his might.
Su Ze carried her to the bathroom.
"Time to get down. Brush your teeth," Su Ze said as he squeezed toothpaste onto her brush.
Xiao Hanhan reluctantly let go, but even while brushing, she kept one hand firmly holding onto Su Ze. Her tall frame bent slightly as she let the foam fall into the sink, her wide miko sleeves held up by Su Ze. The little miko tilted her head, her eyes never leaving Su Ze.
Xiao Hanhan was noticeably clingier than usual. She seemed to sense that their relationship had deepened, that they now shared something akin to a marital bond, though she didn't fully understand what that meant.
All she knew was that Su Ze was hers now!
The thought made her smile. After rinsing her mouth, before even wiping the foam off her lips, she waved her arms, "Hug, want to be naughty."
Her eyes sparkled with childlike innocence, as if she were simply a child asking to be picked up.
She wrapped her arms around Su Ze's waist, standing on tiptoe, her foam-covered lips seeking his.
"Little pervert," Su Ze chuckled, pressing his forehead against hers. Though Uesugi Akizuki was around 5'7", she was still shorter than Su Ze, who stood at 6'1". No matter how much she strained, she couldn't reach his smiling lips.
Uesugi Akizuki was indeed a bit spoiled. She listened to Su Ze because she relied on him and trusted him completely.
Most of the time, she was obedient, even if it was something she didn't particularly like, as long as it was for Su Ze's benefit, she would do it.
But this time was different. All she wanted was a little 'naughty,' and what was the harm in that?
She stepped back, then suddenly wrapped her arms around Su Ze's neck, pulling his head down. Su Ze was startled, but then their lips met.
The red-haired miko, standing on tiptoe, kissed him with her foam-covered lips.
The fresh scent of lemon, mixed with a hint of sweetness from the toothpaste, filled his mouth. It was the natural fragrance of Xiao Hanhan herself.
Su Ze's cheeks flushed slightly.
He was well aware of Xiao Hanhan's spoiled nature. That night, to show him how comforting it was to sleep close together, she had pressed her body against his back and held him for half the night.
Well, half the night—he had managed to escape by the second half.
After breakfast.
"Want to be naughty."
While playing games.
"Want to be naughty!"
During a walk.
"Want to be naughty!"
Su Ze looked at the red-haired Xiao Hanhan, who, despite her innocent and childlike demeanor, seemed to have a one-track mind.
How could she be so pure yet so mischievous at the same time?
Her requests for 'naughty' were as natural as asking for food or water.
"No more being naughty," Su Ze refused.
Uesugi Akizuki shook her head vigorously, clinging to his waist, her face stubborn as she looked up, "Want to be naughty!"
Su Ze could tell that if he refused again, she would throw a tantrum. He gently tapped her forehead, "We can't do it so often, okay? You're turning into a little pervert!"
Uesugi Akizuki seemed to ponder this for a moment, then nodded, standing on tiptoe once more, "Want to be naughty."