The Villains All Fell in Love with Me After Rebirth : Extra 06 - Ning Yu’s First Life (Part 1)

May 29, 2025 Oyen 0 Comments

Happy Reading~

Extra 6: Ning Yu’s First Life (Part 1)

 

Ning Yu slowly withdrew his hand, looking at the young soldier before him with a gentle gaze. He smiled and said, “Do you want to go again?”

 

The young soldier was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. He waved his hand repeatedly with a wry smile. “No, no, I can't win, I can't win.” He rested for a moment, then looked at Ning Yu with admiration. “Thank you for practicing with me. I’ve always looked up to you. I’m also a commoner, and I hope that one day, I can be as strong and outstanding as you, so that the nobles will no longer dare to look down on us!”

 

Ning Yu pressed his lips together slightly, his voice warm yet firm with encouragement. “That day will come.”

 

The young soldier knew that his goal was far from easy. Reality had dictated from birth that catching up to nobles—who were born with prestigious bloodlines and endless resources—would be nearly impossible. Yet, Ning Yu’s words still sent a surge of determination through him. He believed that as long as he worked hard enough, even a commoner could rise above and make a name for himself.

 

Ning Yu saw the blazing determination in the young man's eyes and smiled slightly.

 

This world had many cruel and unfair aspects, but at least people had not lost hope. No matter how much he did alone, he could not change the world. What he could do was give people hope, fight to break the shackles that bound them, and help them claim greater rights. In the end, however, success would not depend on him alone—it would depend on the countless commoners unwilling to accept their fates.

 

A heart that refuses to submit is the strongest force of all.

 

Ning Yu smiled and walked away. After taking just a few steps, a soldier in an elite uniform hurried over. The soldier lowered his hat brim and whispered in Ning Yu’s ear, “Sir, Grand Duke Ji Ting’s only son, Ji Ling, has arrived with a group of people. He’s coming for you.”

 

Ning Yu’s gaze deepened, and in an instant, he pieced together the situation.

 

He had already prepared for anything when he took the risk of infiltrating Emperor Star. He had investigated its political landscape and was well aware of the key figures. He had only just returned from the Nado Star System a few days ago and had received commendation from Emperor Jing Sui for his outstanding military achievements. It was said that Ji Ling was Jing Sui’s most devoted admirer and held nothing but disdain for commoners. He was an arrogant, lawless dandy known for his misdeeds. He was likely here to stir up trouble.

 

Ning Yu had long known that the nobles would never allow him to rise so easily. His path was destined to be full of hardships, plots, and oppression. A single misstep could lead to ruin. He had been waiting for someone to make a move, but he hadn’t expected Ji Ling to be the first to act—he was probably just a pawn being manipulated.

 

Ning Yu nodded slightly and said to Wei Zhen, “Go inform Marshal Brandon.”

 

Naturally, he was not the only member of the Rebel who had infiltrated the military. Wei Zhen was one of his trusted allies.

 

Against someone as privileged as Ji Ling, it was unwise for him to either fight back or back down. Instead, he would let Brandon handle it. Brandon was an anomaly among the nobles—he despised the self-indulgent and worthless aristocrats. He would never allow someone like Ji Ling to attack a soldier under his command, and if Brandon intervened, no one would dare complain.

 

Ji Ling’s arrival was merely the nobles’ first attempt at testing him. Ning Yu would not reveal his strengths or weaknesses over such a trivial matter.

 

Wei Zhen immediately understood Ning Yu’s intent. “Yes, sir!”

 

Ning Yu watched with a smile as Wei Zhen left. Then, he calmly adjusted his sleeves, which had gotten slightly messy from his sparring session. After waiting about ten seconds, just as expected, a strikingly beautiful young man strode toward him with an air of arrogance.

 

The youth had soft golden hair, bright as the rising sun. His ocean-blue eyes were as clear as glass, and his fair, delicate face, paired with his luxurious clothing and polished shoes, made him stand out starkly from his surroundings. He was like a breathtaking painting accidentally left behind in a sea of sand. However, there was something about this painting that was… different from what Ning Yu had imagined. Something was missing.

 

He looked into the young man’s eyes.

 

They lacked the natural arrogance and disdain he had expected. Instead of the usual disgust and scorn he was familiar with, there was a fleeting trace of cautious curiosity…

 

But that strange glimmer quickly disappeared, replaced by a fierce and aggressive look, as if he was doing his best to convince everyone that he was terrifying and untouchable. His pale rose-colored lips parted slightly, and he spoke in a sharp, commanding tone. “You’re Ning Yu?”

 

Perhaps because of the unexpected contrast, Ning Yu did not respond immediately.

 

Annoyed by the lack of response, the young man narrowed his eyes and stared coldly at him with an expression of contempt and superiority. His voice carried an impatient edge. “Hey, I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?”

 

His words were certainly offensive. If one overlooked that brief initial difference, he was the perfect example of an arrogant noble.

 

Ning Yu had endured far worse insults in his journey to this point. He had long since grown numb to such things. If he had let the words of nobles affect him, he would have never made it this far—he would have already exposed himself due to impulsiveness. Allowing emotions to take control was the most dangerous mistake one could make.

 

But while Ning Yu remained composed, his comrades did not.

 

Nearly all the soldiers present were of common birth. Their resentment toward the nobles had been festering for a long time. Now, seeing this ignorant and arrogant young dandy, their eyes burned with fury, and they clenched their fists, eager to teach him a lesson.

 

Ning Yu frowned slightly. He didn’t care if Ji Ling humiliated himself, but the reality was that Ji Ling was not someone they could simply beat up without consequences. If they acted recklessly, the repercussions would be severe. He didn’t want his fellow soldiers—who had fought alongside him and risked their lives—to suffer because of a moment of rashness…Or perhaps, because of that fleeting hesitation at the start, he also didn’t want to see the boy get hurt.

 

He silently signaled his comrades to stand down before turning back to Ji Ling with a calm, unreadable gaze. Finally, he spoke. “Yes, I am Ning Yu. And you are?”

 

He deliberately asked this question to force Ji Ling to introduce himself. This way, everyone would recognize who they were dealing with, preventing an unnecessary conflict that could harm them all.

 

The young man, still brimming with arrogance, momentarily hesitated—just for a second. But Ning Yu caught that flicker of hesitation before it disappeared. Ji Ling raised his chin like a proud little cat, declaring loudly, “I am Ji Ling!”

 

Well, he certainly was famous.

 

Though not for anything good.

 

The soldiers' expressions grew even more furious, but they refrained from acting. Instead, they watched him with barely contained resentment and anger.

 

Ning Yu smiled and asked again, “Did you come to see me for something?”

 

The young man seemed quite pleased with the intimidation his name carried. He puffed out his small chest again, glaring at Ning Yu with a smug expression. “I came to tell you—don’t think that just because you’ve met His Majesty and received his praise, you’re actually something remarkable. Filthy commoners like you, even if you become Evolutionary, are nothing more than our lapdogs and expendable foot soldiers!”

 

Ning Yu raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise. He wasn’t even sure what exactly he was surprised about. He had heard far worse, infinitely more vicious words before—this was nothing new from the nobility. Yet, for some reason, at this moment, he felt that words like these… shouldn’t be coming from the mouth of someone so excessively clean and beautiful.

 

Something felt oddly out of place.

 

But he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was.

 

Ning Yu spoke calmly, unhurriedly, “If by ‘lapdog and foot soldier,’ you mean those who fight the Zerg and defend the nation, then I would gladly be such a lapdog and foot soldier. Because what I protect is not the nobility sitting safely on Emperor Star but the countless civilians across other star systems who are closer to danger and in greater need of protection.”

 

The young man fixed his gaze on him, speaking with disdain, “Don’t be so fake. Weak and lowly commoners dying—what’s there to protect? Didn’t you join the military just to earn military merits and become a noble yourself?”

 

A sudden sense of weariness crept into Ning Yu. This person was no different from the rest of the nobility. Perhaps it had only been a trick of first impressions that made Ning Yu show him more patience than usual.

 

But an illusion was just an illusion.

 

His expression cooled as he looked at the boy with a hint of mockery. “Apologies, but if all nobles are like you, I’d rather not become one of your kind.”

 

The young man immediately flared up, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He shouted coldly, “You dare look down on me?! You are dead meat!”

 

Ning Yu’s lips curved slightly.

 

The young man seemed ready to say more, but just then, an enraged voice rang out—Marshal Brandon’s. “Who allowed you to come here and cause trouble?!”

 

The boy’s face stiffened with fear for a brief moment, but he stubbornly refused to back down, tilting his chin up and saying coldly, “Marshal, your subordinate dared to disrespect me!”

 

The soldiers around them all gave him contemptuous looks. Was this spoiled brat out of his mind? Did he really think the marshal would take his side? What an idiot. He’d been so used to being high and mighty that he had lost all self-awareness. Did he really think he could throw his weight around in the military headquarters? Sure, they couldn’t do anything to him, but the marshal wouldn’t tolerate him.

 

Sure enough, Brandon’s expression darkened.

 

Brandon glared at Ji Ling coldly. This was Grand Duke Ji Ting’s useless son. Normally, Brandon didn’t even want to see him, but coming to the military headquarters to insult his subordinates? That was unacceptable. It was because of parasites like him that people had grown increasingly discontent with the nobility. He couldn’t even be bothered to talk to Ji Ling and directly ordered his men, “Throw him out!”

 

Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, grabbing Ji Ling to drag him away. Ji Ling struggled but couldn’t break free, so he resorted to hurling insults as he was taken away. He clearly wanted to unleash every curse he knew, but his limited vocabulary made his insults sound repetitive. Ning Yu almost found it amusing.

 

Soon, the boy’s voice faded into the distance.

 

Ning Yu turned to Brandon. “Thank you.”

 

Brandon looked at him apologetically. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

 

Ning Yu shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

 

To him, this was nothing more than a trivial matter. Ji Ling himself wasn’t important—the real concern was the people behind him, like Carlos.

 

As the leader of the conservative nobility, Carlos was the one who could never tolerate Ning Yu’s existence. But if this whole scene had been Carlos’s doing, it was almost too childish. It didn’t quite fit his usual style.

 

………………

The next day, when Ning Yu turned on his communicator, he realized things weren’t so simple.

 

Somehow, the news of Ji Ling provoking him at the military headquarters and being scolded and thrown out had been leaked online, instantly causing an uproar. The nobility mocked Ji Ling for failing to even handle a commoner, calling him a disgrace to their kind. Meanwhile, the commoners seethed with anger at the nobility’s arrogance and cruelty, rallying behind Ning Yu in outrage.

 

Ji Ling, along with Ning Yu, had been thrust into the eye of the storm.

 

As for who was behind this, it wasn’t hard to guess.

 

This was likely exactly what Carlos had wanted. Ji Ling might have been a brainless dandy, but he was still a dandy with status and influence. If he continued entangling himself with Ning Yu, or if Ning Yu remained caught up in the public discourse surrounding this incident, it would hinder his plans. For now, Ning Yu didn’t want to provoke direct conflict with the nobility. The more entangled he became in such matters, the harder it would be to maintain his neutrality. A single misstep could lead to noble retaliation, giving them an excuse to target him.

 

And trouble always came faster than expected.

 

One week later, on his way home one night, Ning Yu sensed someone tailing him.

 

Frowning, he quickened his pace, moving toward a crowded area. He didn’t want to engage in a fight here. But just as he changed direction, his pursuer suddenly sped up, and a laser shot past his ear—his opponent had decided to attack outright!

 

Ning Yu’s expression turned icy. He leaped aside, narrowly avoiding the attack. His eyes narrowed as he instantly judged the assailant’s strength—an SS-level fighter. It was clear that his attacker had come prepared and was determined to take him down.

 

Who sent him?

 

Carlos? Or some other noble who couldn’t stand him?

 

Ning Yu feigned being forced back step by step. Within moments, he formulated a plan. After taking a series of aggressive strikes from his opponent, he deliberately revealed an opening. The SS-rank fighter seized the moment, landing a heavy punch to Ning Yu’s abdomen. He purposefully took the hit head-on, even forcing himself to cough up a mouthful of blood to make it more convincing. Seeing Ning Yu stagger backward, the SS-level fighter sneered and lunged forward again.

 

Ning Yu had already found an opportunity to send a distress signal, so he no longer ‘forced himself to hold on’ and allowed himself to be struck down once more, collapsing motionless on the ground. To avoid exposing any flaws, he did not reveal any strength beyond that of an S-level. Soon, he was captured by his opponent—he wanted to see exactly who was behind this attack.

 

The SS-level fighter took out a pair of handcuffs, shackled him, and then took him away, locking him in an underground chamber. Not long after, light footsteps sounded at the door.

 

Ning Yu’s hands were suspended in the air, and blood trickled down from his forehead, dyeing his vision red. He raised his gaze and looked forward indifferently. As the light illuminated the figure stepping inside, he saw a beautiful blond-haired young man.

 

It was him.

 

Somewhat unexpected, yet not surprising at all.

 

Unexpected because he hadn’t thought they would meet again so soon; unsurprising because Ji Ling bearing a grudge over this incident fit perfectly with his venomous and spoiled persona.

 

Under Carlos' instigation, the little brat must have endured significant public pressure. For an arrogant noble like him, wanting to kill someone to regain his dignity was nothing out of the ordinary. But for some reason... Ning Yu suddenly felt a little disappointed.

 

erhaps it was because this forced him to acknowledge that, in the end, this boy was no different from the rest of the nobles.

 

His heart was completely calm, without the slightest ripple, but he still pretended to be furious, his eyes turning cold. He only needed to endure for a while longer—Brandon would come to rescue him soon, and there would be no need to expose his true identity.

 

The young noble wore a deep blue velvet suit today, the tie around his neck adorned with a brilliant blue gemstone. His fair skin shimmered with a soft luster under the dim lighting, just as beautiful as the first time they met. And yet, despite possessing such a lovely exterior, his heart was no different from those decadent, corrupt nobles.

 

But weren’t all nobles like this? Elegant and beautiful on the surface while treating others as if they were mere ants.

 

Beyond disappointment, there was also a faint sense of regret.

 

The young man walked up to Ning Yu and finally seemed to get a good look at his bloodied state. A flicker of panic flashed through his sapphire eyes, but he quickly steadied himself and sneered, “I told you, you’d end up in my hands.”

 

Ning Yu stared into his eyes.

 

What are you panicking for? Does my appearance frighten you? Is it that terrifying?

 

Isn’t this exactly what you wanted to see?

 

Suddenly, Ning Yu chuckled, curving his lips slightly. “Oh? And what do you plan to do to me?”

 

The young noble gritted his teeth and declared, “I’ll make sure you beg for death but be unable to die!”

 

So that's how it is, Ning Yu thought.

 

One of the young man’s attendants immediately stepped forward, respectfully offering him an ultrathin laser knife, saying, “Young Master, you can use this.”

 

These knives were incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through an Evolutionary’s body with ease. Nobles enjoyed peeling the flesh off those who offended them piece by piece, watching them die in utter despair. It was a common and rather unoriginal method of torture, Ning Yu mused.

 

But what surprised him was that the boy furiously swatted the knife aside, looking at it with disdain. “Get that thing away from me.”

 

The attendant immediately put on a sycophantic smile. “Ah, are you finding it too troublesome? Allow me to do it for you, Young Master. I’ll make sure this lowly commoner regrets ever offending you.”

 

The young noble froze for a second, seeming somewhat tense, but quickly masked it with an angry expression. “Who told you to act on your own?! I want to do it myself!” His eyes darted about for a moment before he added, “All of you, leave. I’ll call you if I need anything.”

 

His subordinates didn't question his orders and obediently retreated.

 

Ning Yu watched as the door closed, leaving only the two of them in the room. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

 

Interesting. Every time he convinced himself that this boy was just like any other noble, the boy would do something that surprised him. Every time he thought he had seen through him, the boy would make him reconsider.

 

For the first time, Ning Yu encountered such contradictions in a person.

 

The young noble was much shorter than him, his slender neck tilted upward like a fragile swan. Though he was born into nobility, Ji Ling was famously useless—his physique was only C-level, a worthless failure who couldn’t be helped no matter what. Even in Ning Yu’s current state, with his hands bound and suspended, he knew that if he wanted to, he could snap that delicate neck in an instant. And if he did kill him, no one would ever know.

 

This child… had no idea how dangerous his actions were. He was naive, reckless, and laughably ignorant.

 

But Ning Yu had no intention of doing so.

 

There was no need.

 

He lowered his gaze, staring directly into the boy’s eyes, and said slowly, “So, how exactly do you plan to torture me?”

 

The young man blinked, his long lashes casting faint shadows beneath his eyes. Without others around, he seemed a bit more relaxed—though he still put on a fierce front, baring his teeth like a kitten pretending to be a tiger. “Hmph, I have to think carefully. I’ll make sure you regret looking down on me!”

 

“Take your time,” Ning Yu replied.

 

Brandon would arrive soon anyway. There was no need for him to suffer unnecessary torment. If the boy wanted to take his time thinking about it, so be it.

 

Seeing Ning Yu’s indifferent attitude, the young noble grew even more frustrated, looking as though he wanted to jump up and punch him. But in the end, he held back, likely feeling that such an action wouldn’t be dignified enough. So instead, he racked his brain to come up with insults. He hurled all sorts of curses at Ning Yu, calling him a lowly commoner, demanding to know how he dared to humiliate him, boasting about how he had now fallen into his hands, and declaring that he was doomed. “Are you not afraid of death?” he asked. “Why won’t you beg for mercy?”

 

The term ‘untouchable’ was unpleasant to hear, but aside from that, Ning Yu found the boy’s insults rather lacking in creativity.  For someone with a notorious reputation as a spoiled noble, his vocabulary was quite… limited. The more Ning Yu listened, the more the threats started to sound almost endearing. And every now and then, when the boy thought Ning Yu couldn't see, he would steal nervous glances at him—like a child who had done something wrong, knowing he was in the wrong but too proud to admit it.

 

…Ning Yu wondered if he had lost his mind. How else could he possibly find a noble who had kidnapped, threatened, and insulted him to be… cute?

 

But his intuition told him that the boy didn’t actually want to hurt him.

 

That was why he dismissed his subordinates.

 

Why he only talked but never acted.

 

Perhaps cursing at someone was the worst thing this child had ever done.

 

The boy paced around him a few times, cursing until his throat went dry. Finally, he muttered a little sullenly, “What are you laughing at? You’re done for this time!”

 

Ning Yu pressed his lips together. Was I laughing just now? He looked at the boy with a teasing expression and spoke slowly, “I was just wondering when you’d finally come up with a way to torture me… or if you even dare to do it.”

 

The boy got angry again, huffing as he grabbed the knife he had thrown away earlier and pressed it against Ning Yu’s neck, saying fiercely, “You think I don’t dare to hurt you?”

 

Ning Yu lowered his head slightly, his gaze indifferent. “Do you?”

 

He suddenly wanted to test him, to see if the boy truly wouldn’t go through with it.

 

Ji Ling stared at him, dumbfounded, his hand trembling slightly as he held the knife.

 

This only confirmed to Ning Yu that this was nothing more than a bluffing little brat. He was all talk but too scared to act—his behavior and his words were so contradictory… Ning Yu rarely felt curious about someone he shouldn’t care about, but at this moment, he was intrigued. However, before he could probe further, a scream suddenly rang out from outside. The next moment, the door was violently kicked open!

 

A tall man with red hair and gray eyes stormed in. The sight of Ji Ling holding a knife against Ning Yu instantly enraged him, and without a second thought, he grabbed Ji Ling and flung him aside!

 

A mere C-level physique was no match for Brandon’s strength. Ji Ling, as light as a rag doll, was thrown heavily against the wall. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face pale as he looked at Brandon in terror…

 

Ning Yu froze.

 

His heart clenched for a brief moment—he almost stepped forward to check the boy’s injuries. But his reason took control faster than his emotions. He couldn’t expose himself.

 

Brandon was here to rescue him, and Ji Ling wasn’t in life-threatening danger. Brandon wouldn’t risk offending Grand Duke Ji Ting just because of this. He had merely tossed Ji Ling aside in a fit of anger—for Brandon, this was already considered holding back.

 

It was only because the boy was too weak that he ended up gravely injured.

 

And from a logical standpoint, Ning Yu had no reason to care about someone who had kidnapped, threatened, and tried to harm him.

 

He forced himself to look away, coughing lightly before saying to Brandon, “You’re here.”

 

Brandon was still furious at Ji Ling’s actions and wanted to berate him further. Ning Yu had no choice but to intervene. “I’m fine. He… forget it.”

 

Brandon finally paused, his expression shifting before he returned to Ning Yu’s side. The two had always had a tacit understanding, and Brandon would assume that Ning Yu was stopping him to avoid creating a grudge with Grand Duke Ji Ting over this. And that was indeed what Ning Yu intended… but he also knew that wasn’t the only reason. Perhaps he just didn’t want to see the boy suffer any further.

 

After all, the boy hadn’t actually harmed him.

 

Ning Yu felt that what the boy showed on the surface didn’t fully align with his true self.

 

Even if he really was just an ignorant, reckless dandy, Ning Yu had no interest in holding grudges against a spoiled child. He only killed opponents worthy of his effort. Bullying the weak wasn’t something he would do. At least for now, Ji Ling didn’t deserve to die. Besides, he had no desire to provoke the nobles so soon—his goals lay elsewhere.

 

Brandon unshackled Ning Yu’s hands. Ning Yu wiped the blood from the side of his face and, as he walked out of the room, he glanced back at the lonely boy slumped in the corner.

 

Then, after a brief hesitation, he turned and left.

 

Later, Brandon sent word to have Ji Ling taken back to the Ji residence to recover from his injuries. He also invited Ning Yu to stay at his home.

 

Ning Yu gladly accepted—this was a perfect opportunity for him to get closer to Jing Sui. A civilian idol to the people. A rebel leader who terrified the nobles. Both were him.

 

Entering Emperor Star and gaining the trust of Jing Sui’s faction was the first step in his plan.

 

He believed Jing Sui would make a good ally.

 

………………

Ning Yu moved into Brandon’s estate. Meanwhile, his subordinates informed him that Ji Ling had been placed under house arrest by Grand Duke Ji Ting to recover from his injuries.

 

Ning Yu thought this was for the best. Staying home and keeping out of trouble was the safest choice for the boy. If he continued to let Carlos and the others manipulate him and sought trouble with Ning Yu, he would only put himself in the eye of the storm. And once he was fully dragged into the vortex… Even if Ning Yu didn’t intervene, Jing Sui wouldn’t tolerate him.

 

Jing Sui wanted to introduce genetic evolution agents to the civilian population, weaken the nobles’ power, and create a new empire. At such a critical time, he wouldn’t allow any conflict between nobles and commoners to escalate.

 

Perhaps… the boy truly didn’t know how to love someone.

 

In the blink of an eye, three months passed. Ning Yu successfully met Jing Sui through his stay with Brandon.

 

After several interactions, he found that Jing Sui’s political vision aligned with his own. Although they stood on opposite sides—one representing the commoners, the other the nobility—they had no conflict in their goals of pushing forward genetic evolution agents and reshaping the empire.

 

But Jing Sui was not someone easily deceived. He was sharp, powerful, and rational—a ruler with great ambition. Working with him without exposing his true identity was akin to walking a tightrope with a tiger. Extremely dangerous.

 

Still, it was the most efficient path. Ning Yu believed it was worth the risk.

 

Jing Sui, on the other hand, hoped to use Ning Yu’s status as a civilian idol to bolster his image as a benevolent ruler and gain public support. They quickly became ‘friends.’ A month later, Jing Sui even extended a rare invitation for Ning Yu to attend a palace banquet.

 

And it was at this banquet that Ning Yu saw the boy again.

 

He had thought that after what happened last time, the child would stay away from him, that he would know when to back down. But he still came. Did you really love Jing Sui so much—so much that you lost all reason? Or was it just resentment from last time, unwillingness to accept defeat, hoping for revenge?

 

It seemed possible.

 

But also, not quite.

 

Everyone has their own motives for doing things. The boy’s purpose appeared obvious—anyone could tell what he was doing. He was like an open book, a fool with nothing to hide. Yet, Ning Yu felt that none of this was the boy’s true intent.

 

Because when he got close, when he looked into those blue eyes, it was as if they were saying: I’m sorry, I don’t want this either.

 

The boy wasn’t happy, wasn’t joyful—on the contrary, there was a hint of helplessness.

 

He was born privileged, blessed with everything. What could he possibly feel helpless or unhappy about?

 

Perhaps out of curiosity, Ning Yu didn’t bother arguing with the boy. He simply watched as the boy glared at him in anger, filled with genuine, raw jealousy, as if Ning Yu had really stolen his man. It was almost laughable.

 

He nearly wanted to tell him: Even without me, Jing Sui would never love you. To him, you are nothing but a useless waste. Acting like this will only make him despise you more.

 

But… did the boy truly not want to be hated by Jing Sui? Did he really understand nothing at all?

 

That absurd thought flashed through Ning Yu’s mind for just a moment, leaving him briefly dazed.

 

“Hey, I’m talking to you! Did you hear me or not? Last time, you got lucky. Next time you end up in my hands, you’re dead for sure!” the boy shouted.

 

Ning Yu snapped out of it and looked at him with a meaningful gaze. But you had the chance to make sure I was ‘dead for sure’ last time, didn’t you?

 

The boy saw Ning Yu’s unconcerned expression and, sure enough, was provoked again. He angrily raised his hand, pretending as if he was about to strike him. Why pretend? Because Jing Sui was approaching. Ning Yu noticed. The boy noticed too.

 

And just as expected, the slap never landed.

 

Jing Sui coldly grasped the boy’s wrist, his voice stern. “What are you doing?”

 

The boy’s blue eyes welled up with tears. He immediately protested in distress, “Your Majesty, you’re scolding me for the sake of a mere commoner?” 

 

But Jing Sui remained unmoved, his tone indifferent and emotionless. “If you keep acting like this, I will inform Grand Duke Ji Ting and have him properly discipline you.”

 

The boy seemed unable to believe that Jing Sui could be this heartless. He ran off, crying.

 

Ning Yu had remained motionless throughout the entire scene, and now, having witnessed it from start to finish, he suddenly felt like he had just watched a ridiculous but very real farce.

 

Retracting his gaze from the boy’s retreating figure, he lowered his eyes and said to Jing Sui, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

 

Jing Sui responded mildly, “It was nothing. You are a meritorious subject—you deserve respect.”

 

Ning Yu smiled.

 

The scene had been witnessed by many, and soon, rumors began to spread.

 

It wasn’t long before the story transformed into “Ji Ling was jealous, Jing Sui scolded him for Ning Yu’s sake, and even disregarded Grand Duke Ji Ting’s face.” Online, countless speculations emerged about how Jing Sui favored and protected commoners, and among them, some baseless romantic gossip was mixed in.

 

Ning Yu knew Jing Sui was deliberately allowing these rumors to spread. He wanted to gain an advantage over Carlos in their ongoing power struggle. They all saw Ning Yu as a useful pawn, a key piece in their chess match. And that was precisely what Ning Yu wanted.

 

As a commoner seeking to carve out a place for himself among the noble elite of the Emperor Star, he had to make himself indispensable.

 

So important that no one would dare act rashly against him.

 

………………

Everything was proceeding according to Ning Yu’s plan. Through gaining Brandon’s trust, he had successfully approached Jing Sui and slowly positioned himself within the reformist faction. Carlos had attempted to recruit him multiple times, but Ning Yu had rejected every offer.

 

Carlos was an obstacle that had to be removed. On this, he and Jing Sui shared a common goal.

 

The Emperor Star seemed to be filled with music and merriment, but beneath the surface, hidden currents surged. Various factions vied against one another. Jing Sui was working to propose a reduction in the price of gene evolution agents in the parliament, secretly rallying noble supporters. But Carlos would not sit idly by—he controlled many seats in parliament as well. The outcome remained uncertain.

 

And then, an unexpected incident occurred.

 

Ji Ling publicly challenged him to a duel online.

 

Ning Yu was in the middle of discussing their next move with his subordinates when Wei Zhen hurried in with the news. Wei Zhen said, “What the hell is wrong with that dandy? You’ve already let him off, and yet he’s still clinging to you like a mad dog! Does he have no self-awareness at all? Challenging you to a duel? Does he have a death wish?”

 

Ning Yu pondered for a moment before replying, “Whether he has self-awareness or not isn’t important. What matters is that this duel is very disadvantageous for me.”

 

Wei Zhen didn’t understand. “Why? Even if you only display an S-level strength, you could easily defeat him. You should take this opportunity to humiliate him in front of the entire world! Beat that arrogant dandy to death! If you kill him during the duel, it’s perfectly legal under Imperial law.”

 

Ning Yu raised an eyebrow. “You think I should kill him?”

 

Wei Zhen and the others all nodded. They had long since grown sick of Ji Ling. To them, Ning Yu was like a god—powerful, willing to fight and endure for their sake. They respected him deeply. But this spoiled noble brat kept provoking him, making them all seethe with resentment. If not for Ning Yu’s strict orders to remain calm, they would have beaten Ji Ling themselves already.

 

Ning Yu said, “I could defeat him, but I can’t win.”

 

Wei Zhen was confused. “Why not?”

 

Ning Yu chuckled. “If I actually win, what face will those noble lords have left? Grand Duke Ji Ting is a neutral figure who leans toward Jing Sui. Now is not the time to offend him. If I beat Ji Ling and Carlos seizes the opportunity to stir the pot, wouldn’t I be walking right into his trap?”

 

Wei Zhen finally understood. “So this is Carlos’ scheme?” Thinking about it that way, the situation suddenly seemed much trickier. It only made him despise the nobles even more.

 

Ning Yu nodded, then shook his head.

 

He believed this was Carlos’s scheme, yet when he recalled the boy’s eyes, he suddenly felt uncertain.

 

Besides, he kind of wanted to see him again.

 

Wei Zhen was deeply worried. “What do we do now? Ji Ling has publicly challenged you. If you refuse to fight, it will damage your reputation. You have to accept.”

 

Ning Yu smiled. “Who said I wouldn’t?”

 

He moved his fingers slightly. Of course, he would fight, but how it would end would not go as Carlos planned.

 

………………

Three days later, Ning Yu arrived at the dueling arena as promised. This duel had captured the entire empire’s attention, and the arena was packed with people.

 

Every major platform was livestreaming the event.

 

Ning Yu calmly entered his designated waiting room. Both sides would be using identical mechas provided by the arena, but he was never one to be careless. He personally inspected his mecha and discovered that someone had tampered with it—if the fight lasted too long, it would begin to slow down.

 

Unless he was mistaken, this was Ji Ling’s doing. After all, Ji Ling had no way of defeating him fairly, so he had to resort to sabotaging the mecha.

 

The kid seemed both smart and stupid. Even if he won this way, so what? This blatant violation of the rules would be exposed, and he would only humiliate himself.

 

If the boy didn’t always act as if he hated him, this move would almost seem like he was deliberately ruining his own reputation to highlight Ning Yu’s excellence as a commoner.

 

The thought nearly made Ning Yu laugh. He had always considered himself rational and composed, yet such absurd speculation had surfaced again and again with this noble brat. It was definitely abnormal.

 

Why would Ji Ling do this?

 

Rather than believing in such ridiculous theories, it was more reasonable to assume that Ji Ling was simply an idiot.

 

But regardless, since someone was handing him an opportunity, he would gladly play along.

 

So Ning Yu pretended not to notice the tampering and entered the battle as usual.

 

Though he could defeat Ji Ling in just three seconds, he deliberately held back. He displayed the strength of an excellent S-level fighter—no more, no less—dragging the fight out until his mecha’s issues surfaced, forcing him to retreat step by step under Ji Ling’s attacks.

 

Ning Yu was waiting. He was betting that Jing Sui would not stand idly by, would not allow a noble brat to use such despicable means to publicly kill a hero of the people, and would not let Carlos’s scheme succeed.

 

Sure enough, at the last moment, Jing Sui’s mecha descended from the sky, ruthlessly knocking back Ji Ling’s machine and saving Ning Yu.

 

Ji Ling crawled out of his mecha, covered in dirt. Under the gaze of countless spectators, he looked as if he was about to cry, his sorrowful eyes fixed on Jing Sui.

 

He truly seemed to love him. And he was truly heartbroken.

 

But unfortunately, Jing Sui had never liked him. Since he neither cared for him nor loved him, he had no sympathy for him. In his eyes, Ji Ling was nothing more than a nuisance who repeatedly caused trouble. Without hesitation, he scolded him in public and was prepared to punish him severely. It was only after Grand Duke Ji Ting rushed over to plead for mercy that Ji Ling escaped harsh punishment. Even so, the entire Ji family became a laughingstock, mocked by the entire network.

 

The boy was led away by Grand Duke Ji Ting.

 

For Ning Yu, this was the perfect resolution. Not only had he successfully defused the crisis, but he had also deepened his connection with Jing Sui.

 

However, when he recalled Ji Ling’s lonely figure as he left, scorned by the masses, he felt no joy.

 

He had never been sentimental, never pitied his enemies. When necessary, he could be ruthless. His hands were already stained with the blood of countless nobles. And yet… unexpectedly, he found himself unable to be completely indifferent to this noble brat.

 

Maybe it was because of the way the boy had looked at him with nervous curiosity the first time they met.

 

Maybe it was because of his bluster and sharp words, which belied his hesitation and fear.

 

Maybe it was because he couldn’t quite figure him out.

 

He felt that reality must be different from what he saw, but that strange sense of dissonance was like a fog—whenever he reached out to grasp it, it slipped away through his fingers. He simply couldn’t understand why the boy was doing all of this.

 

Without a reason, his speculation was nothing more than baseless fantasy.

 

………………

Because of this incident, rumors about Ning Yu and Jing Sui unexpectedly exploded in popularity. People scoured every little detail, convinced that Jing Sui treated Ning Yu differently, fabricating endless gossip about them.

 

Although most of it was nonsense, Jing Sui didn’t mind. He wanted to leverage Ning Yu’s reputation to break the empire’s rigid class hierarchy. He needed a commoner empress.

 

And Ning Yu thought—if he could attain the status of empress, he would be able to accomplish much more.

 

So both of them remained silent in the face of the rumors.

 

While the internet was in a frenzy, a distress signal arrived from the Nado Star System.

 

An urgent battlefield report. The Zerg Queen was personally leading an attack on Nado, and Jing Sui decided to go to war himself. Ning Yu, without hesitation, joined the expedition along with Brandon. 

 

The Nado Star System had long been plagued by war, barren and desolate. Its inhabitants were hardened warriors defending the borders. Ning Yu had been here before, and he quickly immersed himself in battle.

 

But one day, when he returned to the base, he unexpectedly saw that otherworldly noble brat again.

 

Ji Ling sat in the dining hall with his attendants, as arrogant as a prince on an inspection tour, pointing at the food and loudly criticizing it. It was as if he was afraid people wouldn’t hear him, basking in the glares of the furious soldiers.

 

This kid really didn’t learn his lesson. Hadn’t the last incident been punishment enough?

 

Ning Yu pressed his fingers against his forehead—he actually felt a bit of a headache. He immediately wanted to turn around and leave, but just as he moved, the boy's eyes lit up, and he shouted, “Stop right there!”

 

Ning Yu had no choice but to stop and turn back to look at him.

 

The boy glared fiercely at him and said, “Hey, stay away from His Majesty, got it?”

 

Ning Yu asked, “You came here for His Majesty?”

 

The boy lifted his chin. “That's right.”

 

Ning Yu didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt like sighing. However, he didn’t say anything. He just turned around and left, this time not stopping at the boy's command.

 

He found it rather meaningless.

 

Arguing with Ji Ling felt like fighting with a spoiled child over a toy, but he had no interest in competing with Ji Ling for Jing Sui.

 

He had neither the time nor the inclination to be dragged into a so-called ‘love triangle.’ Jing Sui didn’t love Ji Ling, and that had nothing to do with him.

 

The situation at the frontlines was intense and brutal. Ji Ling wasn’t participating in the battles, yet he swaggered around the base every day. The only reason he hadn’t been beaten up was probably because the attendant he brought along was a skilled fighter.

 

On the final day of battle, the Zerg launched a frenzied counterattack. It turned out there were two Zerg Queens this time. Ning Yu and Jing Sui fought in space, while Brandon remained at the base. But then the base was attacked by one of the Zerg Queens, and its defenses were weak. The situation became incredibly dire. Ning Yu had no way of returning to help—he and Jing Sui were still surrounded by the Zerg. His mecha tore apart a Zerg with both hands and charged forward again with unstoppable momentum. Since he couldn’t go back, he would maximize their gains instead. He pushed toward Jing Sui's position, choosing to fight side by side with him.

 

As for Ji Ling… that fragile child, completely powerless against the Zerg—whether he could survive in the chaos was unknown to Ning Yu.

 

At that moment, he didn’t want to think about it.

 

The world was full of unexpected events, and people always had to pay the price for their recklessness. Ji Ling should never have come here in the first place.

 

Several hours later, Ning Yu and Jing Sui drove the Zerg back and returned to the base to provide reinforcements. With ruthless precision, Ning Yu killed the grotesque Zerg in front of him, eager to end the battle as soon as possible. His gaze swept over the ruins, searching among the wreckage, but he didn’t see the boy’s corpse…

 

Once the Zerg had been completely cleared out, Ning Yu finally saw Ji Ling.

 

Though the boy's body was smeared with blood, he appeared unharmed. He stood in front of Brandon, his chin lifted defiantly, looking at Ning Yu with the same provocative gaze as always.

 

Ning Yu suddenly found it amusing.

 

Ji Ling arrogantly turned to Brandon and declared, “I saved you, so from now on, you're not allowed to help Ning Yu!”

 

Brandon looked troubled. But he was a man who repaid his debts, so after a moment of hesitation, he stiffly nodded and said to Ning Yu, “I'm sorry.”

 

Ning Yu thought to himself, Ji Ling actually saved Brandon? That was surprising. With a slight smile, he said, “It’s fine.” With or without Brandon, it wouldn’t affect his plans. 

 

Ji Ling, on the other hand, looked triumphant. He crossed his arms behind his back and huffed, “Hmph! You don’t have anyone to rely on now. Let’s see what you’ll do! If you kneel and beg me for forgiveness, maybe I’ll consider letting you off.”

 

Ning Yu laughed again, shook his head, and turned to leave.

 

Why was he even wasting time here?

 

Soon, after some quick repairs, the army began its journey back.

 

Because of this battle, Ning Yu’s reputation soared once again. Jing Sui also deliberately showed favor toward him, making sure the public witnessed it. People only saw what they wanted to see. Give them hope, a beautiful illusion to hold on to, and they would rush forward blindly. The truth, in the end, didn’t really matter.

 

Meanwhile, Ji Ling’s many bad habits within the military were exposed. He had made a lot of enemies, and few people knew that he had saved Brandon.

 

The boy continued to endure scornful gazes wherever he went, always appearing like an outsider. He was completely alone, except when he deliberately acted arrogant and provocative to draw attention or to challenge Ning Yu. Otherwise, he always seemed to be by himself—almost as if he were lonely.

 

So much so that his arrogance seemed more like a mask.

 

Ning Yu found himself subconsciously observing Ji Ling, watching him more than he should. But that wasn’t right. Why should he care about someone like that?

 

It was strange, wasn’t it?

 

Was it just because of the contradictions in the boy's behavior?

 

Ning Yu felt that this should stop. As long as Ji Ling didn’t come looking for trouble, he had no reason to interfere in his affairs. Everyone was responsible for their own actions, and Ji Ling should have known what consequences his behavior would bring. No one could help him. Ning Yu himself had no reason to meddle. They had no relationship. In fact, they were enemies. Weren’t they?

 

The journey home was long.

 

News of the army’s victory had already reached the Empire. Jing Sui’s popularity grew even stronger among the people, but that was likely not the outcome Carlos wanted.

 

And so, a few days later, the fleet was ambushed.

 

The rebel forces struck and disrupted the fleet’s formation. After their initial success, they didn’t linger—but they did manage to abduct Ji Ling, who had fallen behind.

 

When Ning Yu received the news, he was genuinely surprised.

 

He had never ordered the rebels to attack Jing Sui’s fleet. There was no need for that right now. Inciting further hatred between the nobility and the rebels would be detrimental to both him and Jing Sui. But the attack still happened. The rebel army waently. They didn’t always follow his commands. He quickly discovered that the one resps made up of various factions, a chaotic mix of different forces that operated independently for this move was General Lector of the Xianyun System.

 

Ning Yu immediately contacted Lector and said coldly, “General Lector, why did you attack Jing Sui’s fleet?”

 

Lector burst into laughter in the video and said, “Lord Gabriel, my informant received news that Grand Duke Ji Ting’s only son is in this fleet. If we capture and kill him, we can deliver a heavy slap to the faces of those arrogant nobles and show the world that commoners are not to be trampled upon! Besides, hasn’t Ji Ling provoked you multiple times? A noble like him deserves to die!”

 

Ning Yu’s expression was cold and stern as he continued questioning, “Where did you get this information?”

 

Lector's gaze flickered slightly before he replied, “Where I got the news from doesn’t matter. What matters is that we’ve captured the famous Ji Ling. Anyway, I have something to do. I’ll contact you later.”

 

Ning Yu watched as Lector disconnected the communication, then closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

A moment later, he used his communicator to summon Wei Zhen.

 

Wei Zhen had already heard about the attack. He seemed indifferent, shrugging as he said, “We’ve checked—there weren’t significant losses, just Ji Ling being taken. Looks like our brothers in the other bases aren’t too fond of him either.”

 

Seeing Wei Zhen’s attitude, Ning Yu didn’t explain further. He simply said, “You will disguise yourself as me and stay with the fleet. I have to leave for a while.”

 

Wei Zhen was shocked. “You’re leaving now? That’s too risky!”

 

Although he could use a disguise device to impersonate Ning Yu, Ning Yu’s identity was too important. He was maneuvering between Brandon and Jing Sui, and Wei Zhen wasn’t confident he could flawlessly maintain the disguise. If he was exposed, their entire plan would be ruined. What worried Wei Zhen wasn’t his own life but the risk of Ning Yu’s identity being uncovered—that would mean total failure for all their efforts.

 

But Ning Yu was resolute. He said firmly, “I suspect Lector has betrayed us.”

 

This was clearly Carlos’s scheme. Lector knew this wasn’t the right time to act, yet he had still taken the risk of kidnapping Ji Ling. If Ji Ling were to die now, the biggest beneficiary would be Carlos. The conflict between the nobles and the rebel forces would escalate, severely undermining Jing Sui’s efforts to push for the adoption of the genetic evolution agent. The neutral factions might even side with Carlos.

 

But many people didn’t realize this. After all, they had killed many nobles before and had begun to see it as routine—just eliminating another corrupt aristocrat.

 

But Ji Ling was different. His status was different.

 

And the timing was different.

 

Ning Yu fixed Wei Zhen with a steady gaze and said, “You stay behind. I’ll return as soon as possible.”

 

Wei Zhen was still stunned but had always trusted Ning Yu without question. He stopped arguing and simply said, “Understood.” If things got too difficult, he could always fake an injury to buy time. As long as he avoided seeing Jing Sui, he might be able to get through this. Jing Sui was busy and likely wouldn’t be concerned with Ning Yu right now—after all, no matter how much he disliked Ji Ling, he still had to rescue him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to Grand Duke Ji Ting.

 

Ning Yu patted Wei Zhen’s shoulder and left the fleet that very night.

 

He moved at the fastest speed possible, infiltrating the rebel base nearby. His subordinates had already sent him Lektor’s location. He just wanted to be faster, faster. But why? Was it just because he feared Carlos’ plan succeeding?

 

As an SSS-level Evolutionary and the strongest leader of the Rebel, Ning Yu possessed a perception far beyond that of ordinary people. The moment he stepped into the base, he heard voices from the distance. He quickened his pace and moved toward the source of the noise.

 

The hall was filled with shouting—vulgar curses and furious cries resounded as people vented their deep-seated hatred for the nobles. They discussed the most brutal ways to torture Ji Ling before killing him, how they would defile him and display his corpse for all to see. Ning Yu’s expression grew heavier and heavier. Because among all these voices… he couldn’t hear the boy’s voice at all.

 

Was he too late?

 

He felt an unexpected emptiness in his heart. Slowly, he took out a silver mask and put it on. Then, he strode forward and pushed open the door!

 

His gaze immediately landed on the boy lying on the cold floor in the center of the hall, hands bound behind his back. He locked eyes with a pair of blue eyes filled with despair and fear.

 

The hall fell into sudden silence.

 

Then, one after another, people lowered their heads and saluted. “Lord Gabriel.”

 

Their eyes were filled with confusion, puzzlement, respect, and admiration. They didn’t understand why he had suddenly appeared.

 

But Ning Yu didn’t look at anyone else. He walked step by step toward the boy, his gaze fixed on his face. He saw those blue eyes fill with even greater fear and despair in an instant. That frail body trembled, lips quivering slightly.

 

Ning Yu reached out, grabbed the boy by the collar, lifted him up, and swept his gaze over the surrounding crowd. “He’s coming with me.”

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