The blond man in a snow-white military uniform stood quietly by the window. The sunlight refracted in through the glass and spilled on him, adding a touch of divine color to him. He was obviously standing in the corner but he was the first thing Xu Sili saw when he walked in.
This person was always so dazzling, as if people couldnât ignore his existence wherever he went.
Xu Sili pursed his lips. Actually⌠he felt quite a sense of accomplishment.
The miserable, little slave who was like a vicious dog had grown into such an excellent and powerful man. There were no traces of the past on his body. Perhaps he wasnât the person he used to be. After all, it wasnât the same game anymore.
Xu Sili thought about this and felt a bit curious. What type of life had the game developers of Starry Sky Age given to Si Sheng?
It was just like Li Zhecheng, the guard captain. He was originally from the card game but his current background had nothing related to the original one.
In the original game, Li Zhecheng was a nobleman and the childhood friend of the princess. Since he was young, he aspired to become a knight protecting the princess.
He was loyal, heroic and saved the princess in distress many times. He was a very reliable man who could give people a sense of security. As for this Li ZhechengâŚ
Xu Sili glanced sideways at the guard around him.
On this side, Li Zhecheng was also a nobleman. The family had fallen because there were no elementalists for many years. It was only after Li Zhechengâs rise that their situation became better. Naturally, there wasnât the romantic setting of growing up as the princessâ childhood friend.
Loyal was loyal, but reliable? Forget it!
Xu Sili would never forget the scene on the night he crossed here where Li Zhecheng rushed into the hall with the guards only to quickly withdraw.
Next to him, Li Zhecheng perceived the gaze of the little emperor. He felt under a lot of pressure.
Your Majesty, donât look at me anymore! Havenât you found that Lord Marshal is angry? If looks could kill, I would probably be dead several times!
âYour Majesty.â Si Shengâs low voice rang through the open palace. It seemed no different from usual.
However, Li Zhecheng instinctively glanced over and his eyes widened with disbelief. The marshal was smiling!
Am I going to die?
Li Zhecheng silently moved to one side, opening a safe distance with the little emperor.
Xu Sili also looked at Si Sheng.
The man had his lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile that was even more dazzling in the sunlight.
However, Xu Sili just felt awkward. He nodded to Si Sheng and walked slowly to the dining table. A maid pulled out a chair for him and waited for him to sit down.
Si Sheng also came over. He put his hand on the back of a chair and gently pulled the chair out.
Xu Sili raised his eyes and saw this person was wearing white gloves. They were very beautiful hands wrapped in white silk. They were pleasing to the eyes but they werenât a slender and delicate beauty. Rather, they were full of masculine power.
The man sat down in the chair. Under Xu Siliâs gaze, he slowly took off the gloves, revealing the original cold white complexion and a series of⌠faint scars.
Xu Sili was slightly startled. This was the first time he noticed Si Shengâs hands. Were Si Shengâs hands in the past the same? Or was it a new setting added by the game developers?
Si Sheng placed the two gloves over each other and put them aside. Then he seemed to notice the young manâs gaze and glanced sideways, meeting the young manâs eyes.
He lowered his eyes and his gaze fell on his hands. There were many scars on the back of the hands, such as those left by whipping. They were shallow enough to tell they were old. At the very least, they werenât caused in recent years. Moreover, it was very difficult for anyone to hurt him now.
Si Sheng was in a bit of a daze when the young manâs voice was heard.
âDid it hurt?â
It was soft and gentle, as mild as the morning light.
Did it hurt?
Si Sheng raised his eyes and smiled softly at the young man. âI forgot.â
Did you really forget?
Xu Sili saw this smile and didnât know what to say. After thinking about it, he added, âDonât smile if you donât want to smile.â
Si Sheng didnât answer immediately. Instead, he reached out to grab the milk jug. He poured milk into a glass and gently placed it in front of the young man.
âYou said I should smile more,â he whispered.
Xu Sili sniffed the strong milky smell. He couldnât help taking a sip and nodded when he heard the words.
âYes, you look good when you smile. It is better than a cold face.â He casually spoke his mind without feeling that anything was wrong. Thus, he didnât noticeâ
Si Shengâs eyes darkened slightly and a sharp light flashed in them.
Xu Sili was completely unaware of the anomaly. He ate breakfast with Si Sheng while thinking about todayâs plan.
He would first go to the Elementalist Academy to ask about the training of the elementalists before going to see Su Lin⌠he could also go to Mercenary Town for an inspection if he had time.
Xu Sili thought of this and opened the territory panel, casually scanning it.
[Mercenary Town Lv 1]
[Status: Under construction and upgrade.
People in charge: Justin, Wen Jishan (100% increase in revenue)
Completed: Wooden house x 3.
Under construction: Wooden house (80%), brick house (54%), wooden house (11%), wooden house (1%), brick house (1%).
Financial expenditure: 0
New population: None.
Special status bonus: Residentâs injury rate 2% (construction speed -10%), residentâs hunger and cold rate 30% (construction speed -30%)]
He saw the progress of the completion and construction and nodded. It seemed that Dean Justin was working hard and building houses non-stop since early in the morning.
Then he soon frowned. It had been one night. How could the injury rate of the residents in the mercenary town still be so much? Didnât he send a water healer yesterday afternoon?
âLi Zhecheng.â He looked at the guard.
Li Zhecheng was a bit full after eating dog food. Now his name was called and he quickly stood up straight. âYes, Your Majesty!â
Xu Sili didnât immediately become angry but instead asked, âI requested for the water healer to go to Mercenary Town yesterday and treat the victims. What happened?â
Li Zhecheng heard this and his expression showed a bit of difficulty.
âWhat is it?â Xu Sili put down the milk and raised an eyebrow at him.
âYour Majesty, Master Niya is still in the palaceâŚâ Li Zhecheng thought carefully. âI will urge her to depart as soon as possible today!â
âUrge her to depart as soon as possible?â Xu Sili smiled, making Li Zhecheng feel numb. This was how His Majesty had smiled outside the deanâs office that dayâŚ
He stood quietly, afraid to say anything.
âJenna, go call her,â Xu Sili ordered lightly.
âYes, Your Majesty.â Jenna answered respectfully. Then she exited the dining room and went to summon the water healer in person.
There might be a communicator but the other person was a doctor. In order to uphold respect for the angel in white, Xu Sili had sent a maid to invite her.
The thing he didnât expect was for the other party to turn him down.
âYour Majesty, Master Niya said⌠she canât leave now. Can she meet Your Majesty another time?â Jennaâs voice became smaller as the smile on the little emperorâs face grew.
âShe canât leave?â
Xu Sili recalled the cold temperament of the water healer. âWhat is she doing that she canât leave?â
Jenna answered truthfully, âShe seems to be⌠practicing medicine?â
âOh, how interesting.â Xu Sili nodded and drank the milk. This time, he didnât forget to wipe his mouth with a napkin before standing up. âShall we go and see what amazing medical skills this powerful royal water healer is practicing?â
The little emperor was resolute as he walked straight out.
He was heading toward the door when Si Sheng called out from behind him. âYour Majesty.â
Xu Sili looked back and raised an eyebrow.
He suddenly remembered a small detail. On the day when he sent Janice to the water healerâs palace for healing, he seemed to see a picture of Si Sheng on the wall of her residence.
At that time, he had been anxious to go to the Elementalist Academy and hadnât taken it to heart. Now he thought of it.
What was this? Was Dr Niya Si Shengâs lover? Now that he was going to find fault, did the marshal want to stop it?
Xu Sili looked at Si Sheng, eyes gradually becoming a bit bad. Si Sheng didnât seem to realize it. He moved to the little emperor and asked, âIs Your Majesty going to walk?â
âIs this a problem?â The corners of Xu Siliâs mouth went down and his tone became less friendly.
Li Zhecheng glanced at Janice in a puzzled manner. Wasnât it fine just now? Why did the emperor feel dislike again?
Janice ignored him and watched Si Sheng with some caution. His Majesty didnât like Marshal Si Sheng. As the most trusted person by His Majestyâs side, Janice naturally aligned herself with His Majesty.
Si Shengâs lips curved, a shallow smile on his face. âIt is better to let this servant send you over.â
Xu Siliâs expression softened but he didnât agree. âNo need.â
How inappropriate was it to hold him and teleport him instantly in front of the maids and guards?
Si Sheng shook his head and frowned. âIt is just a water healer. How can you personally walk over to see her?â
It was a light tone with a touch of overbearing arrogance.
Xu Sili looked at him and was persuaded. âThen what do you think?â
Si Sheng smiled, raised his hand and made a gesture. Suddenly, the air cracked open like there was a pocket.
Roar!
Along with a mighty and domineering roar, there was a mountain-like pressure from the crack. Then a shadow flashed.
The shadow leopardâs vigorous figure jumped out from the gap, landing firmly on the ground as green beast eyes scrutinized everyone.
Xu Sili was a bit dazed. Fu*k, this shadow leopard⌠was too handsome!
The black leopard glanced at him, beast eyes shining with wisdom. He paced slowly toward Si Sheng, squatting down beside his master.
Si Sheng was very tall but even with the shadow leopard squatting down, it was still a head taller than him. The body was full of a violent air and the shadow leopard obviously wasnât easy to provoke. Yet he was very well behaved when with Si Sheng.
Si Sheng reached out and patted the black leopard on the forehead. The leopard squinted and rubbed against the palm with enjoyment, like a big cat.
At Xu Siliâs envious gaze, Si Sheng glanced sideways and suggested softly, âHow about we let him give us a ride?â
Xu Sili blinked, glancing between this person and the shadow leopard. It was like this. What else was there to say?
âOkay! Letâs go!â
He had long wanted to ride the big cat!
Xu Sili was eager to try it. He might have an instinctive fear of fierce beasts but this was quickly replaced by excitement. Men were always interested in beasts and birds.
Under the guidance of Si Sheng, Xu Sili slowly leaned over and reached out toward the leopard.
The shadow leopard saw him reach out and bared his teeth at Xu Sili. Then he instantly controlled himself after a look from Si Sheng.
He lay on the ground obediently, letting Si Sheng help Xu Sili onto his back. Then he stood up in a majestic manner.
Xu Sili had ridden horses before but this was the first time he had ridden a leopard. To be honest, he sat on the back of the shadow leopard without any saddle reins and was a bit at a loss for a moment.
Where should he put his hands? Would the leopard be angry if he grabbed the fur? Before he could keep worrying over it, the shadow leopard suddenly got up.
Xu Siliâs body shook and he was about to fall down when a powerful arm hugged his waist in time. He felt himself being picked up, moved back a bit and pressed into an embrace.
âYour Majesty, hold onto my arms.â The manâs breath sprayed against his ears, causing Xu Sili to feel a bit hot.
Before he could struggle, the shadow leopard started to run.
Xu Siliâs heart immediately jumped. He hugged Si Shengâs arms tightly, maintaining his balance as he looked at the extremely fast moving scenery around him. He was full of excitement and surprise.
âSi Sheng, you let September fly into the sky! I want to go to the sky to see!â
Xu Sili completely forgot about finding fault and now wanted to ride the big cat through the sky. This feeling of the wind rushing past him was cooler than riding a roller coaster!
Si Sheng was taken aback for a moment. Then he laughed again and all the shadows in his eyes seemed to be swept away. He leaned toward the young manâs ear, his low voice carrying a bit of tenderness. âOkay.â
He whispered and gave an order to the shadow leopard. The shadow leopard that had been originally running through the castle suddenly roared. Then two black shadows appeared on his back.
The shadows extended to the sides and once fully expanded, turned into two pure black wings. The wings flapped hard and took them to the sky.
Below, Li Zhecheng and a group of guards looked up at the dark shadow in the sky. He exclaimed with envy, âMaster Si Shengâs Chasing Shadows is too mighty! I am deeply shocked every time I see it.â
What man wouldnât want a mount like this?
Janice also looked up at the sky. She was a bit worried but she couldnât help nodding in agreement at the words.
This shadow leopard was an ancient beast of Escher Star and had a powerful bloodline that allowed him to soar through the sky. After being subdued by the marshal, he willingly signed a contract, becoming the marshalâs mount and servant.
Chasing Shadows was the name of this ancient beast.
***
After flying around in the sky, Xu Sili finally remembered what he had to do. He patted Si Shengâs arm and said, âLetâs go down and find the water healer.â
He could play with the big cat anytime but right now, the matter of Mercenary Town was more important.
Si Sheng let out a hum of agreement. Without any words, the shadow leopard turned around and flew back.
After reaching the sky above the residence of the water healer, the shadow leopard roared majestically.
Then he landed on all fours on the ground. The hard stone bricks were instantly split apart and the wings were put away. They once again turned into black shadows and dissipated.
Such a big movement naturally attracted the guards and maids of the water healer. They ran out to watch. Once they saw the ferocious shadow leopard, they turned pale and trembled all over. Some even screamed.
âAn interstellar beast! An interstellar beast!â
This was quickly stopped by someone with good eyes.
âShut up!â
âThat is the marshalâs contract beast!â
Niya was disturbed by the movement of the fierce beast and ran outside her residence. She couldnât help calming down when she heard these words. At the same time, a bit of surprise appeared on her cold and beautiful face.
Lord Si ShengâŚ
She hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran in the direction of the yard.
Sure enough, the moment she got there, she saw the dark beast standing in the open space of the yard.
The man in the snow-white uniform jumped off the black leopardâs back, neatly and with extraordinary heroism.
Niya was a bit dazed. Then she thought of something, hurriedly put down her skirt and tidied herself. She was just about to rush over when she saw the man looking at the back of the shadow leopard.
This was when she found that there was still a silver-haired young man sitting on the shadow leopard. He looked down at the man with a somewhat arrogant and indifferent expression, while Marshal Si Sheng⌠smiled at him.
âYour Majesty, this servant will hug you down?â Si Sheng watched the young man, gray-blue eyes filled with tenderness and a pious feeling.
Xu Sili looked into these eyes and felt that Si Sheng was particularly good-looking at this moment. ButâŚ
He wasnât one to be tempted by beauty. There were so many people looking. Where was the majesty of the emperor if he was carried down by this person?
âNo, let September lower himself and Iâll go down by myself,â Xu Sili answered lightly.
Si Sheng wasnât disappointed and just smiled deeper. âSeptember, have you heard it?â
He looked at the shadow leopard who was standing stiffly. The shadow leopard turned his head, the green eyes giving him a strange look.
What was with his real name suddenly? He thought that Chasing Shadows was cooler!
However, under the manâs strong pressure, he compromised. Donât look at his master who was currently smiling and seemed very easy to get along with. Rather, it caused him to feel a chill. Too frightening! Master was actually smiling!
The shadow leopard lay down obediently like a big docile cat. It formed a strong contrast with the imposing appearance just now. It was just that nobody present would think he really behaved well.
Xu Sili turned sideways. He took Si Shengâs hand and jumped down from the back of the shadow leopard. He might not be as cool as Si Sheng but he maintained his demeanor.
Once he stood on the ground, his purple eyes swept over the group. The maids and servants present all fell softly to the ground.
âI greet Your Majesty! I greet Lord Marshal!â The shouts rang out and Xu Sili nodded lightly while his eyes fell on the only woman who was still standing.
Niya stood there like she was stunned stupid. She didnât recover until the silver-haired young man walked up to her. She glanced at Si Sheng before gracefully saluting the young emperor. âI greet Your Majesty. I greet⌠Lord Si Sheng.â
The cool look was no different from when he came with Janice that day.
Only Xu Sili keenly felt her difference toward Si Sheng. This discovery made him feel a bit uncomfortable. Xu Sili didnât think much and stepped forward, directly blocking between her and Si Sheng.
Niya was half a head shorter than him. No matter how arrogant, her aura was already a bit weaker. She looked at Xu Sili, her expression still calm but her eyelashes lowered slightly. âYour Majesty, are you injured? Do you need healing?â
Xu Sili chuckled lightly. âI heard that Lady Niya is very busy and it is too inconvenient to accept my summons. Therefore, I came in person. I donât know what type of medical skills you are studying that you donât even have time to see the emperor?â
Si Sheng, who was blocked behind the young man, frowned when he listened to Xu Siliâs rather ambiguous words. The smile on his face faded. This NiyaâŚ
âYour Majesty, Niya does have something important todayâŚâ Niya lowered her head, her eyes dodging around.
âIs it important? What is it?â Xu Sili increased the volume of his voice, his face cold, âWhat is more important than the emperorâs order?!â
Niyaâs heart jumped. She wasnât stupid. She just relied on the royal water healerâs preferential treatment as well as her understanding of the little emperor to feel he wouldnât do anything to her.
Now seeing the emperor, she realized this young monarch was different from the past.
âYour Majesty, please forgive me for my sins.â She succumbed very simply.
Xu Sili stared at her coldly. âThis emperor gave an order yesterday to let the royal water healer go to Mercenary Town to treat the victims. Niya, why are you disobeying?â
The victims who were affected by the three star beastâs riots werenât seriously injured. With her ability, he believed it wouldnât take long for her to heal them. Yet here she was, wasting time.
However, Niya frowned. She bit her lip and said, âYour Majesty, I am the royal water healer. Mercenary Town⌠they are all civilians.â
Letting a water healer, let alone a royal water healer, going to that dirty place to treat a group of civilians?
Niya wasnât happy.
Xu Sili frowned at her with surprise. He had thought of many reasons but he hadnât expected it to be this. He had grown up under an equal education and he couldnât accept this explanation.
What about civilians? Were nobles so great? Without civilians, what would the nobles eat or wear? Did these things fall from the sky? Looking down on civilians was simply wrong!
Xu Sili looked at the still stubbornly frowning Niya and didnât want to continue wasting time.
âIn that case, from today onwards, deprive Niya Chris of her noble status and remove her from the post of royal water healer.â His voice was indifferent and almost cold. It was troubled times and Roland was in such a situation. If he couldnât get rid of this unjustified sense of superiority from the nobles, it would be difficult for this country to become strong. If a talent like Niya couldnât be used by him then donât waste the empireâs precious resources on her.
His words fell into Niyaâs ears like thunder. She stared at the young man in a daze. It was only at this moment that she felt so clearly that the little emperor really wasnât the cowardly and weak monarch of the past.
Niya finally lost all her composure and arrogance. She shouted loudly, âYour Majesty, you canât do this?â
âWhy not?â Xu Sili tilted his head and looked at her. âI hate people who take money and donât do anything in their lives, taking the emperorâs salary without sharing the emperorâs worries. Since you arenât sharing the emperorâs worries, whatâs the use of having you?â
âYour Majesty, I am a water healer! A two star water healer with the most powerful healing techniques!â Niya was a bit angry. âI treated Janice.â
âWhat about my brother and sister? Did you treat them?â Xu Sili suddenly asked.
Niya choked up and murmured, âHis Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness were on the front linesâŚâ
âThen why werenât you on the front lines?â
âI..â Niya was blocked and speechless.
Xu Sili watched her. In fact, he felt a healer like Niya should go to the front lines where she could exert her greatest strength. But nowâŚ
He shrugged. âGo to Mercenary Town to treat the victims or go to the front lines. Choose one of the two. Once you heal 10,000 patients then you will be restored to your original position.â
After speaking, he looked at Si Sheng.
âMarshal, do you think this arrangement is reasonable?â
Si Sheng looked at him, gray-blue eyes smiling again as he nodded gently. âIt is reasonable.â
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Si Sheng: Everything my wife says is right (â§â˝âŚ)/