A discordant voice broke the silence.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Bai Xingluo’s icy gaze shot over, as cold and indifferent as the peak of a snowy mountain, looking at the speaker as if they were merely a speck of dust.
The juror was so frightened that he froze in place, his lips trembling uncontrollably as he stuttered, “I-I didn’t say anything, please continue.”
He suspected that if he said another word, he would surely meet a bad fate.
Seeing his terrified juror, the Chief Judge, Bronte, adjusted his reading glasses and spoke slowly.
“Bai Xingluo, General, do you confirm that you want to make Lord Tong Sui your male lord?”
“I confirm.”
After a moment of stunned silence in the live broadcast, all the onlookers reacted, and the bullet screen filled up.
[Wait, hasn’t the verdict just been announced? Can this really allow Bai Xingluo to escape punishment?]
[To evade punishment, he found an innocent male lord? Bai Xingluo is despicable. That poor male is so young and handsome; he must have been coerced.]
[@Male Protection Association, what are you doing?]
[I’m really curious where Bai Xingluo found this adorable male. I’m confessing, I’m a bit smitten; what colour sack does he like?]
[If this can clear him of guilt, can future military females commit crimes this way?]
[What if they genuinely love each other? The empire’s rules state that a male’s personal property can’t be interfered with.]
…
Their opinions did not affect the course of the trial.
Chief Judge Bronte glanced at his assistant and ordered, “Go unlock the shackles from General Bai Xingluo.”
The assistant was momentarily taken aback and hesitated, only to hear Bai Xingluo coolly say, “No need, I can do it myself.”
With a crisp snap, the seemingly sturdy shackles were crushed in his grasp, clattering to the ground.
“…”
The insects present couldn’t help but feel a chill run down their spines; they knew perfectly well that they couldn’t control Bai Xingluo.
Before absolute power, their weakness seemed almost laughable.
Tong Sui’s expression changed slightly as he took a half-step back.
So strong!
He suddenly realized that his plan to rescue had been somewhat unnecessary; Bai Xingluo could escape on his own.
This slight retreat did not escape Bai Xingluo’s keen observation.
A glint of darkness flashed through Bai Xingluo’s eyes.
He had overheard his subordinates chatting before: males disliked overly aggressive and rough females.
Bai Xingluo glanced at the shackles around his wrists, almost without hesitation, groaning softly as he coughed twice, directing his gaze toward the military female holding the key.
“I have no strength left; please help me unlock these.”
The military female: “…”
What a joke!
Had it not been for the sight of the fallen shackles on the ground, looking as though he had kneaded dough, she might have almost believed him.
Bai Xingluo had once single-handedly taken on an entire space pirate gang, could tear through mechas, and had emerged unscathed after mecha crashes in battles!
This superficial injury seemed alarming, but it was hardly worth mentioning for an S-rank psychic.
Hearing these words, Tong Sui completely believed him; he looked up at Bronte and said, “Your Honor, my attendant isn’t feeling well; I would like to take him home.”
Tong Sui’s voice was clear and pleasant, just like his own character, bright and clean.
Bai Xingluo’s heart raced, beating rapidly.
It felt like a gift that had been sitting in a display case for ages, finally receiving a pair of gentle hands that brushed off the dust and brought it home, placing it in the most prominent position, making it unique and singular.
This was his lord.
How marvellous and unbelievable it was; had he known this would happen, he would not have rejected the meeting when he first received the invitation.
He truly regretted being so foolish.
If it weren’t for his lord insisting on seeing him, he might have missed this divine blessing.
Just thinking about that possibility made Bai Xingluo feel as if he could hardly breathe, his chest heavy and oppressive.
If not for the fear of frightening his lord, he would have crawled on the ground to atone for his ignorance and arrogance, pleading for forgiveness.
Tong Sui turned around, noticing Bai Xingluo gazing at him with somewhat dazed eyes as if he genuinely didn’t feel well.
Could it be an infection causing a fever?
He instinctively lifted his hand, the cool softness of his palm gently pressed against Bai Xingluo’s forehead, checking his temperature.
“Hm? Doesn’t seem too hot?”
Bai Xingluo’s tense pupils constricted slightly, frozen in place, mouth agape, but his mind blank: “Excellency Tong Sui, you—”
“Still calling me by name?”
Tong Sui lightly curved his eyes, correcting him, “From the moment you accepted my proposal, I became your lord.”
Lord.
Hearing those words come from Tong Sui’s lips, Bai Xingluo felt his knees weaken, struggling to remain upright.
Nothing had ever stirred such intense emotions within him; not even the empire’s highest honour ceremony had evoked such a reaction.
Bai Xingluo opened his mouth.
Uttering those two words was even harder than learning to pilot a mecha.
He held back so much that sweat began to bead at his temples, and a gentle blush crept across his usually stoic face.
He felt utterly useless.
Lord Tong Sui would surely be disappointed in him—
He secretly lifted his gaze, expecting to find reproach, only to meet a pair of clear, innocent eyes filled with warmth and a smile.
“Alright, if you can’t say it now, let’s try again next time. For now, let’s go home.”
Thump thump.
Bai Xingluo distinctly heard his own heartbeat, wildly racing out of control.
He was indifferent to most things, with only one belief deeply ingrained in his bones: to defend the empire.