I raised stunning young ladies, but they all wanted to possess me.

......

Gu Yan stood in front of the sand table of the highest command headquarters in Shanglu City.

The entire topographical map of Shanglu unfolded before him, with the beach defense line, residential areas, evacuation roads, and ports clearly marked.

Wei Changfeng stood to his left, and Pei Youyi stood to his right.

The shadows of the three people were cast long, long on the sand table by the cold light overhead.

"The entire Shanglu region is now a salient point."

Gu Yan drew a circle on the sand table with her finger.

"It is surrounded on three sides: north, south, and east."

"Only the western evacuation route remains open."

"We must evacuate all civilians and wounded from the west."

"The army will cover the rear, and the civilians will go first."

Wei Changfeng stared at the sand table for a long time with his eyes, which were yellowed from the smoke of gunpowder, and then nodded.

"I agree."

"I led the remaining veterans to set up three lines of defense on the beach and around the city."

"Deputy Commander Gu, you will lead the main force to escort the civilians from the west."

"Ms. Pei has the best aerial maneuverability, so let her provide mobile cover on both sides of the retreat route."

Gu Yan looked at Pei Youyi.

She nodded slightly.

"A section of the western passage is an open area without any cover."

"I will set up a wind wall there to keep all the pursuing calamities behind the retreating convoy."

"it is good."

Gu Yan pushed the markings on the sand table.

"It will start at 3 a.m. tomorrow."

"The civilian convoy will go first, followed by the wounded in the second wave."

"The third echelon is the main force."

"Finally, there are the rearguard troops."

"The time window is only four hours."

"Four hours later, no matter how many people are still in the city, they must all be evacuated."

After the meeting, Wei Changfeng went to set up the blocking positions.

Gu Yan left the command center and headed towards the medical area.

The sea breeze carried the faint sounds of noise from the distant residential area.

That was the sound of millions of people packing their bags, making arrangements for their families, and waiting for evacuation orders.

As he listened to those sounds, it felt like a stone was pressing on his heart.

Chiyomiya Hanyu was placed in the quietest corner of the medical area.

When Gu Yan lifted the curtain and went in, she was leaning against the headboard reading a book.

The hem of her plain white kimono spread out on the light gray bed sheet, her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her complexion was much better than a few days ago, but her lips were still a little pale.

When she saw Gu Yan come in, she closed the book, placed it on her lap, and smiled at him.

Mr. Gu.

"Has the evacuation plan been finalized?"

Gu Yan sat down beside her bed and nodded.

"3 a.m. tomorrow."

"You follow the wounded team."

"Your injuries haven't healed yet; you can't fight."

Yuzuru tilted his head, his deep brown eyes looking at him quietly.

Her eyes held tenderness, a touch of disappointment, and a hint of cunning that only she knew.

"I know."

"In my current state, I would only be a burden to you on the battlefield."

Her voice was very soft and gentle.

"But Mr. Gu, you've become so strong because of me."

"Do you know that you possess my spiritual power?"

"I can feel it every time you come near me."

"It's like an invisible thread that connects you and me."

Gu Yan felt a little uneasy under her gaze.

He coughed lightly and was about to get up to pour her some water.

Yuzuru had already thrown off the covers, knelt up on the bed, and leaned towards him, his hands supporting him on the edge of the bed.

The neckline of her kimono loosened slightly due to this movement, revealing a small patch of her fair collarbone.

"How about becoming even stronger?"

Her breath brushed lightly across his cheek, carrying a very faint scent of cypress.

Gu Yan coughed again.

"Forget it."

"You're still injured."

"We'll talk about it after you've recovered."

"The injury has healed a lot."

Yuzuru had already climbed up to him, one hand on his knee, the other slowly sliding up his arm.

Her fingers were cool, but with each inch they slid across, Gu Yan felt that inch of skin begin to burn.

"Moreover, this kind of thing is also good for my injury."

"Mr. Gu's mental strength is the best medicine for me."

Before Gu Yan could say anything more, her lips were already pressed against hers.

Her kiss was light, like a cherry blossom falling on her lips.

But her movements were anything but gentle.

She pushed him down onto the bed, straddling his waist, her white kimono slipping off her shoulders and bunching around her waist.

A luminous light, like that of a luminous pearl, seeped through the gaps in the tent roof and fell upon her smooth back.

Her skin was so white it glowed, her shoulders were slender and delicate, and her waist was incredibly thin.

Her long hair fell down, brushing against Gu Yan's chest, cool and ticklish.

He reached out and supported her waist; her waist was so slender in his palm that it was heartbreaking.

She leaned down, her lips kissing from his Adam's apple down to his collarbone, and finally back to his lips.

"Gu Yan".

She called his name between kisses, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"You must come back alive."

"Miss Lin, Miss Pei, and I will all be waiting for you."

Gu Yan did not answer.

He rolled over and gently pressed her down beneath him.

Her long hair was scattered on the pillow, and her deep brown pupils shone like two pools of water in the dim light.

He kissed her lips, pouring all his answers into that kiss.

After leaving Yuzuru's tent, Gu Yan stood in the sea breeze and took a deep breath.

He moved his wrists and could feel his mental energy increase again.

That power is now incredibly abundant, like a deep sea with no end in sight.

But the calamity is also growing stronger.

If he becomes stronger, they become stronger.

This war is like a race with no end.

He walked toward Elena's tent.

Elena was assigned to an open area far from the main tent complex because she kept complaining during the day that the human soldiers were too noisy.

When Gu Yan lifted the curtain, she was sitting on a futon in the center of the tent, reading a book.

Her long silver hair was spread out on the floor, and her golden pupils looked like two quietly burning stars in the dim light.

"You've become stronger."

She said it without looking up.

"Um."

Gu Yan sat down opposite her.

"But it's still not enough."

"The calamity is growing stronger."

"I need a faster way to become stronger."

Elena turned a page of the book.

"surrender."

"There are cruel races in the Black Tide faction, but there are also those that are not so cruel."

"If you apply now, with your abilities, they will give you a respectable position."

"You won't have to worry about becoming stronger anymore."

Gu Yan gave her a disgruntled look.

"impossible."

"Then keep making love and get stronger."

Elena raised her eyelids, her golden pupils looking at him calmly.

"You're much stronger than before, and that's why."

"Are you thinking of any other solutions?"

"I'm telling you, no."

"You humans call it dual cultivation."

"I thought you knew."