Chapter 12

When Yin Mingzheng heard the news and rushed over, a group of people dressed like civilians were gathered around a sketchy man rambling on about something. The scene was in complete chaos, but he was able to immediately spot the youth in the crowd.

Shi Qing was hiding behind a junior member of his squad. He wasn’t crying, but the corners of his eyes were red and he occasionally sniffled. That pair of beautiful silvery eyes couldn’t help but glance fearfully at his surroundings.

Yin Mingzheng felt like a nail had been hammered deep into his heart.

He strode over with an icy face: “What is going on.”

Yin Mingzheng wasn’t loud, but the aura he radiated made everyone stop talking involuntarily. The disorderly crowd became silent.

In the end, it was the squad member carefully protecting Shi Qing who stepped forward. He did not dare to look at Yin Mingzheng’s face as he recounted the situation: “Shi Qing came over to play, but a man suddenly came over to make a ruckus about him not paying for goods.”

Yin Mingzheng’s expression remained ambivalent. He glanced over at the sloppily dressed man. After seeing him avoid his gaze out of guilt, he understood what was going on here.

Zhao Miaomiao who had been squeezed to the side a while ago saw that he came. She still wasn’t satisfied, so she came over to softly say: “When I arrived earlier, I saw that man begging Shi Qing to spare him so I asked him about it. Who would’ve thought that this child was so timid that he started crying? Since you’re here, Mingzheng-ge, you should comfort him. Everyone’s hearts hurt just looking at him cry for the past 20 minutes.”

Zhao Miaomiao’s words may appear to be generous and well-intentioned on the surface, but the underlying message was clear.

The other person was asking Shi Qing to forgive him, but he started crying. Not only that, he had to cry for an excessively long time. Was he a boy or a girl?

Could Yin Mingzheng really not be bothered by this kind of behaviour?

Yin Mingzheng really wasn’t bothered.

When he heard that Shi Qing had cried for 20 minutes, he was stunned and then his heart began to ache.

The man closed in and pulled Shi Qing into his arms. He tenderly began to stroke his soft hair. His guilt became more complex as the youth stared at him with those red-rimmed eyes.

Shi Qing could have stayed on the ship and been spoiled to the moon. He could’ve had anything he wanted.

But he was naive enough to be deceived into remaining on this base. His position wasn’t as inviolable as before, to the point where even a random passerby could bully him to this point.

His voice became softer as he thought about this. To the others, it seemed like he was afraid of frightening the youth:

“Shi Qing, were you scared?”

The ability user who had been shielding Shi Qing breathed a sigh of relief at the tone of his boss. He almost thought someone with a temper like Yin Mingzheng would put justice above personal feelings.

Zhao Miaomiao’s eyes were about to bug out. She was almost screaming in her head.

Is Yin Mingzheng blind?!!

Or is he deaf?

What young man cries for 20 minutes after being scolded a few times? He might look young, but he was at least 16 or 17.

Acting like this at that age meant he was either developmentally delayed or pretending.

How could Yin Mingzheng not see that?

Zhao Miaomiao was beginning to think that her attempts to seduce Yin Mingzheng were unsuccessful due to her approach.

Although she sometimes acted pitiful, she didn’t dare to overdo it because of Yin Mingzheng’s personality. She could only pretend to be generous and understanding in front of him.

But her efforts had no effect on Yin Mingzheng. It was like the man was ignoring her existence altogether, only bothering to coldly tell her to scram a couple of times.

At that time she thought Yin Mingzheng was just too straightlaced to appreciate someone like her.

However, it turns out that Yin Mingzheng just had different preferences.

He likes dramatic crybabies?

Yin Mingzheng didn’t think Shi Qing was being dramatic at all. On the contrary, he believed that Shi Qing must have endured a lot to cry like this.

Billions of powerful robots were willing to serve him with all their might. Even if Shi Qing didn’t issue orders, the more intelligent models would still attend to and accompany him.

In Yin Mingzheng’s opinion, Shi Qing might hold the scepter and wear the crown, but he was just a child that had been spoiled his entire life.

In a foreign environment, even a small slight was unimaginably awful to a child like this.

“Mingzheng……”

Shi Qing called out pitifully. He buried himself into the man’s embrace as if he was scared out of his wits. He sounded like he might start crying again: “I always give money, even more money than they ask for.”

One civilian standing around didn’t dare to speak when Yin Mingzheng first arrived.

When he saw his intent to protect Shi Qing, he gathered his courage and added: “He’s telling the truth, General Yin. The young master is very generous.”

“I agree. My husband wove a cricket out of grass last time and the young master paid more than he should for it. Everyone on this street knows that.”

More and more people spoke out on Shi Qing’s behalf: “The young master is a good and reasonable person. My son broke his leg while fighting the Insects. He couldn’t find a doctor because he was just a mercenary, but the young master helped him out. He’s a healer, so if he really lacked money he could just sell his services.”

“Yeah! Plus none of us recognize this guy. He’s not someone from our street. The entire outer zone sells their wares here, and I’ve never seen him before.”

The words seemed to spark the anger of the crowd.

“Did he come here just to cause trouble?”

“He probably thought that the young master was an easy target since he’s so young and impressionable. He even swore at him! Pah!”

Yin Mingzheng didn’t expect so many people to stand up for Shi Qing. He knew before that Shi Qing got along with the residents of the outer zone and was welcomed here, but he thought that was because of his own reputation.

The scene before him made Yin Mingzheng feel proud like a parent watching their child grow up.

Was this how it felt like to raise a kid?

He tightened his hold on Shi Qing and addressed the crowd: “Thank you all for looking after Shi Qing today. He’s still young and naive, so it’s a relief that everyone intervened on his behalf.”

Regardless of what really happened, it’s safer to label Shi Qing as a young and ignorant child first.

Now to deal with this ruffian with unknown origins.

Yin Mingzheng got straight to the point. He could be tolerant towards innocent civilians. He could even sacrifice himself to protect them. But he had no such patience for those that came looking for trouble.

Besides, the entire base knew that Shi Qing was his, so how could an ordinary person dare to confront him like this?

The man raised his hands, and streams of black mist surrounded the instigator.

His voice was freezing: “Who sent you.”

That person felt his knees go soft as the ability surrounded him. He couldn’t even move a muscle.

His orders were to trap Shi Qing and prevent him from leaving.

Now he was the one that was trapped.

By a bigshot like Yin Mingzheng, no less. The entire base knew that he was the most powerful of all the ability users. He didn’t even need to lift a finger to kill. Even if he were to run, it would be a futile effort.

The man was hired by Zhao Miaomiao, but through several proxies. He also didn’t know that the rich young miss who seemed pure standing nearby was his employer. Seeing no way out of this situation, he scrambled to kowtow to Yin Mingzheng: “General Yin, General Yin please forgive me. Someone did offer me money to do this. They said that they wanted to teach the young master a lesson. You are a tolerant man, so please have mercy.”

The ability user beside him knew how to read the mood. He immediately laughed and tried to reassure the crowd once he heard that there was a conspiracy: “Since there’s a parent here this should be resolved quickly. Everyone should return to what you were doing while we figure things out.”

Yin Mingzheng’s protective behaviour since he arrived was reassuring to the civilians. However, they were also afraid after hearing that there was a mastermind behind this matter.

That person was likely powerful or influential if they were willing to go against General Yin. If they angered such a prominent figure, they could only wait for death.

The civilians dispersed.

The shoddily dressed man on the ground carefully raised his head now that everyone was gone. He accidentally met Yin Mingzheng’s eyes filled with frost. A shiver went down his spine.

“Gen-General, you have to believe me. I really didn’t want to do anything else to the young master, I just wanted to scare him! Just scare him a little!”

Yin Mingzheng paid him no mind. He glanced at his subordinate, who understood and immediately bound the man securely.

“Boss, I’ll take this person back to interrogate him.”

Zhao Miaomiao wasn’t worried as she saw him being taken away. To ensure that he would die in front of witnesses, she ordered someone else to drug him beforehand. That man would be dead within ten minutes.

Even if they managed to get something out of him in this time, killing his direct superior would be enough to cover her tracks.

After determining that she could not be implicated, the woman in a white dress ran in front of the man. She said warmly: “Mingzheng-ge, we just happened to meet today, so why don’t I treat you to lunch at one of my family’s restaurants here?”

Afraid that Yin Minzheng would refuse, she added on: “Shi Qing has had quite a fright, so this could be just what he needs to calm down.”

He can calm down, but he can’t eat.

Yin Mingzheng was thinking about bringing back a new type of oil for Shi Qing to coax him. His face remained expressionless, and he said flatly: “No need. Thank you Miss Zhao, but I’ll be taking Shi Qing home. Goodbye.”

Another failure. Zhao Miaomiao grit her teeth.

Shi Qing just happened to open his mouth to ask: “Mingzheng, my feet are sore. Carry me back.”

“Okay.”

Yin Mingzheng scooped up the youth and lowered his forehead to touch his cool skin: “Sleep if you’re tired. We’ll be home soon.”

“En.”

The youth agreed obediently and snuggled deeper against the man’s chest.

Zhao Miaomiao hated him so much! So much!

Isn’t it just a case of the crying child getting all the attention?!

Anyone can do that.

She forced a smile onto her face as she chased after the two: “Then let’s go back together. We just happen to live in the same direction……ah!!”

The woman twisted her ankle and crashed to the ground.

Before Yin Mingzheng turned around, she slapped herself hard across her face to bring tears to her eyes. She pitifully held her left ankle as she stared at the man: “It hurts……”

“Hiss……I think I’ve twisted my ankle. Mingzheng-ge, can you help me get back home?”

Yin Mingzheng: “Sure.”

Joy flashed through Zhao Miaomiao’s eyes, but her expression remained apologetic: “Sorry for inconveniencing you like this. I know you promised to carry Shi Qing back, but now he’ll have to walk because of me.”

As she thought, Yin Mingzheng preferred this type.

The youth that was sweetly sleeping in the arms of humanity’s hero opened his eyes at those words. He silently extended two of his fingers and began to viciously pinch the man.

Shi Qing’s strength was not to be trifled with, but Yin Mingzheng didn’t even blink as he took out the satellite phone that could be used inside the base. “Hello, I’m at the marketplace of the outer zone. General Zhao’s daughter is injured here, please come and pick her up.”

“Okay, thanks.” The man hung up after briefly explaining the situation. He looked at Zhao Miaomiao who was still on the ground stunned by what just happened. “The medical corps will be here within ten minutes. Just sit tight and wait for them.”

Yin Mingzheng nodded politely and turned with Shi Qing in his arms to leave.

Zhao Miaomiao: “……Wait, wait! General Yin……”

“Oh, right.”

The man glanced over his shoulder. Zhao Miaomiao became gleeful. She thought that he had reconsidered. But Yin Mingzheng said with a straight face:

“The fee for the ambulance is 1000 star coins. Don’t forget to pay me back.”