AEKMEM chapter 32

The spaceship carrying Chu Heng and An Qiao was suddenly swept away by a black hole, causing great concern for the adjutant, Jiang Qi.

He immediately contacted Xue Luo, another of Chu Heng’s adjutants.

Xue Luo was an orphan from a remote planet. Compared to most of the beastmen in the Empire, he was more skilled in combat. He was literate and martial, a resourceful and wise general. While Chu Heng was away from the Second Army Corps, Xue Luo handled most of the corps’ official duties.

This time, Chu Heng used the excuse of “finding a level 2S elven healer” to bring An Qiao to Water Blue Star, leaving the Second Legion under the temporary supervision of his adjutant, Xue Luo.

Jiang Qi was deeply troubled. “His Highness may have been swept into the Spirit Burial Snowfield
on Water Blue Star by a black hole. Similar accidents have occurred with spaceships approaching Water Blue Star before.”

“Fortunately, the vital signs sensors left by His Highness and An Qiao are normal, and they are not in immediate danger.”

“It’s not advisable to let news of His Highness’s disappearance get out. I will keep it a secret and send men into the Spirit Burial Snowfield as quickly as possible to find him. Just in case, you should also be on guard with the Legion. “Be prepared for news of His Highness’s disappearance to leak out.”

Xue Luo was much calmer than Jiang Qi. “There’s no need to worry too much. His Highness is exceptionally strong. In his dragon form, he can fly, and the Spirit Burial Snowfield can’t hold him.”

Jiang Qi sighed: “I’m worried about An Qiao…”

He stopped speaking.

After discovering that the current An Qiao wasn’t the original An family young master, Chu Heng ordered Jiang Qi to destroy all clues and evidence related to An Qiao’s true identity by any means necessary and to prevent anyone else from discovering it.

Since Chu Heng had given a strict order, Jiang Qi had no choice but to obey, even if it meant not informing Xue Luo, who was also Chu Heng’s adjutant.

“Are you worried that the Crown Princess will hold His Highness back?” Xue Luo asked.

He shook his head. “Judging from the Crown Princess’s actions and personality, he’s extremely decisive and efficient. He doesn’t seem like the type to hold him back.”

Jiang Qi: “…

If he only dragged him down, that would be fine. But An Qiao’s origins were unknown, and his level of danger was uncertain. What Jiang Qi feared most was that An Qiao had been planted by the enemy — someone who was too “straightforward and decisive” and might secretly harm Chu Heng.

“Forget it. There’s no reasoning with you.”

Xue Luo: “You should trust His Highness’s judgment. He has always been the most accurate judge of character and has never misjudged anyone.”

“Maybe His Highness is currently enjoying his honeymoon with the Crown Princess.”

Jiang Qi: “… ”

Jiang Qi secretly rolled his eyes.

“Wait… This is terrible! I just received some news.” His expression changed drastically. “The Empire’s strongest and most cunning pirate group, the Greedy Wolf Pirates, has arrived on Water Blue Star and gone into the Spirit Burial Snowfield!”

“I have a bad feeling. Xue Luo, find out why the Greedy Wolf Pirates would take such a huge risk to enter the Spirit Burial Snowfield. Could something major be happening there?”

**

The vast snowfield is always windy and snowy.

As dusk gradually fell, the snow and wind became even colder and more biting at night.

After being tidied up, the small wooden hut finally looked somewhat habitable.

Outside, the wind and snow lashed down, but inside, the blazing fire was warm and bright. It created a strangely cozy and peaceful atmosphere.

An Qiao sat before the fire, supporting his chin with one hand and fixing his eyes longingly on the enticing aroma of the roasted lamb leg in Chu Heng’s hands.

Chu Heng had hunted the lamb.

Previously, when Chu Heng went out to hunt for dinner, An Qiao was quite skeptical.

An Qiao himself was a kitchen disaster. He would confidently enter the kitchen, tinker with recipes for hours, and emerge with a cold expression, never to return.

He thought that someone like Chu Heng, who held a high position, should be about the same as him in cooking: seven of his seven orifices connected to six—completely clueless¹“七窍通了六窍——一窍不通” “Seven orifices open, six remain closed—completely clueless.” This is a humorous idiom-like expression “Completely clueless / utterly incompetent.”. The appearance was pitch-black, and the taste was even worse.

He’d rather go hungry for a few meals than eat Chu Heng’s food!

The stronger you are, the less you’ll suffer from hunger for a few days.

When they went hunting together, An Qiao subtly separated from Chu Heng for a while. He used his light-attribute magic to cultivate two fruit trees and pick some fruit.

He’d rather starve to death than eat Chu Heng’s “dinner”!

However, now, with the rich, overpowering aroma of roasted lamb in the air, An Qiao had forgotten his previous statement.

Who knew that Chu Heng had this skill? His culinary abilities are unbelievable!

“Is it ready yet?” Smelling the increasingly intense aroma, he couldn’t help but ask Chu Heng.

Chu Heng raised an eyebrow. “I remember someone complaining about my cooking and saying they’d rather just eat fruit.”

An Qiao: “… ”

An Qiao firmly denied it. “I don’t remember saying that!”

“But I do remember—” Chu Heng sighed deeply. “I was heartbroken when Qiao Qiao complained about me.”

Heartbroken, perhaps—more like worried.

When he saw the perfectly ripe fruit An Qiao brought back, he was utterly speechless.

It was possible there were fruit trees here, but fruit this fresh and in such perfect condition was almost unheard of. Even fruit from carefully tended trees wasn’t this perfect, let alone wild fruit. Moreover, he had noticed that, although there were fruit trees around, none bore fruit with such vibrant, eye-catching colors.

These fruits were definitely forced to grow behind his back by An Qiao.

An Qiao’s cover-up was far too careless! He almost wanted to tell him: Qiao Qiao, you should be more careful!

An Qiao: “… ”

He didn’t seem to notice Chu Heng’s sadness at all. Instead, it sounded like he was teasing him.

However, after hearing Chu Heng’s words, An Qiao still felt a little guilty.

After silently reflecting for a moment, An Qiao took a golden, round orange and handed it to Chu Heng. “Want an orange?”

Chu Heng: “…?”

Was An Qiao trying to coax him?

He raised an eyebrow slightly and pushed his luck, asking, “That’s it?”

The Elf King, inexperienced at “coaxing” for the first time, thought he was complaining about the amount: “Then I’ll give it all to you?”

Chu Heng curled his lips. “You don’t have to give it all to me. But I’m roasting a lamb leg and can’t free my hands—”

He paused, then chuckled, “How about… Qiaoqiao, could you peel an orange for me and feed it to me?”

An Qiao: “… ”

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  “七窍通了六窍——一窍不通” “Seven orifices open, six remain closed—completely clueless.” This is a humorous idiom-like expression “Completely clueless / utterly incompetent.”