[T/N: This expression is a playful nod to a famous line from the classical Chinese poem “Pipa Xing” (琵琶行) by Bai Juyi, which reads: “千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面” (“After being called out countless times, she finally appears, still half-hiding behind her pipa”).In modern usage, people often reference the first part (“千呼万唤始出来”) to humorously describe something or someone that took a long time to show up or make an appearance, then deliberately leave out the rest of the line to create a comedic or teasing effect.]
The guests were being entertained in a grand banquet hall. At the very center of the hall was a tall staircase, lined with a thick black-and-gold carpet. Attendants stood politely on either side of the stairs, welcoming guests.
The spacious first floor of the banquet hall was lively and bustling, with most of the guests gathering there. However, ascending the plushly carpeted staircase led to a smaller area on the second floor. Although the space on the second floor was limited, it was arranged to be even more comfortable and luxurious, with various delicate decorations tastefully placed to create a balanced and harmonious atmosphere.
From the second floor, one could look down through intricately carved wooden railings and see the full view of the lively first-floor banquet hall. However, from the first floor looking up, only the staircase could be seen.
Beiat, as the future heir of the Mia family, had remained on the first floor from the beginning, personally attending to the guests. Meanwhile, the guest of honor for the day, the elderly Marquis Mia, had been quietly staying on the second floor.
Only a very select few of the most distinguished guests were invited by the attendants to ascend to the second floor, where they could greet the elderly Marquis. After exchanging pleasantries with him, those guests were free to choose whether to stay and relax in the quieter, more exclusive second-floor lounge, or return to the lively festivities on the first floor.
At this very moment, the elderly Marquis was standing silently by a finely carved wooden window, peering through the gaps in the intricate patterns and watching the bustling crowd in the banquet hall below.
From his vantage point, he witnessed the interaction between Beiat and the young man. Though the distance was great and prevented him from seeing the details clearly, he noticed Beiat’s stiff posture the moment he locked eyes with the young man.
Those deep, dark blue eyes, more profound than the stars, could be terrifying when they ignited with flames. The old Marquis, who had once fought alongside the young man, knew this all too well. He knew how frightening those eyes could become when lit by fire, capable of striking fear deep into one’s heart.
His expression grew heavy as he watched Major General Taylor stride past Beiat and into the banquet hall. Despite the wrinkles that lined his aged face, the old man’s eyes remained sharp and piercing. He observed Taylor’s figure with a gaze as keen as a falcon watching its prey from above.
The moment the young Major General appeared, he commanded the attention of everyone in the hall. All eyes instinctively gravitated toward him. But it wasn’t merely his striking beauty that drew such attention—there was something more. The young man seemed to radiate a scorching light, a cold fire that simultaneously burned and chilled those around him. It stung faintly, yet no one could tear their gaze away from him.
So beautiful.
So terrifying.
These were the thoughts weighing heavily on the old Marquis’s mind.
To think that this young man had managed to evade his capture in such a hostile environment, return to the Ishtar warship… And after all that, he dared to step back onto Mia Star, standing boldly before him once again.
Yes, indeed, the danger of returning here, especially under the watchful eyes of so many, was minimal—anyone with a bit of foresight could deduce that. However, even knowing the risk was small, few would dare return to a place where their life had been threatened. It’s akin to standing before a churning sea of molten lava—though you know you won’t be burned, few dare to take that step.
Yet, this young man did so without hesitation.
He was far more dangerous, far stronger than the old Marquis had ever anticipated.
However…
The old Marquis’s wrinkled hand clenched tightly into a fist.
In this situation, he couldn’t act against Taylor, especially with Princess Salome present. It was an open secret that Princess Salome was infatuated with Major General Taylor. The emperor’s deep affection for this young Major General was largely due to the princess.
Therefore, if something were to happen to Taylor here, the princess would not let it rest. Once she dug into the matter, the Mia family would be the one left disgraced. He couldn’t suppress the princess from investigating the matter—even though the royal family had long since weakened, their control diminished to an extreme, they still held the mantle of legitimacy. As powerful nobles, those like him had to maintain a semblance of respect toward the royal family, no matter how diminished they were, or risk disrespecting them.
Otherwise, people would seize upon this weakness and launch an attack against the Mia family… and His Majesty the Emperor would surely be delighted to see such a situation unfold.
The old Marquis sighed softly.
It seemed he would not be able to nip this danger in the bud after all.
The old man’s face, which had always given off a sense of strength and resilience over the years, now showed a hint of exhaustion, making him appear even older. He had lived his whole life with unwavering integrity, wanting to uphold his beliefs until the end, yet in his final moments, he was forced to do something that went against his own will and convictions for the sake of his child.
In the end, he had grown old after all.
With a heavy sigh, he stopped watching the young man downstairs, turned away from the window, and sat back down in a chair covered with thick furs.
He closed his eyes. With his head slightly tilted back against the chair’s backrest, his face betrayed no emotion. No one could tell what he was quietly contemplating behind his closed eyes at that moment…t mm
***
Along the sides of the banquet hall, there were several small rooms designed for guests who wanted a private space to rest. The personal attendants accompanying the guests were not allowed into the main hall, so they would quietly wait in these rooms until their masters called for them.
The rooms for those prestigious enough to be invited to the second-floor VIP lounge were, of course, located on the second floor. While the rooms themselves had no view outside, there was a wooden window adorned with carved vine patterns at the end of the corridor. Standing there, one could peer through the intricate designs and take in a full view of the bustling banquet hall below.
As the princess of the empire, Princess Salome naturally occupied the most luxurious room on the second floor, located right next to the corridor’s end. Miao Te, as her attendant, waited quietly in this exclusive room.
Caesar, the black panther, clung to him closely, barely leaving his side. Although the typically aloof panther didn’t exhibit any affectionate behavior like licking or nuzzling, it lay on the soft sofa, occasionally licking its front paws. Every time Miao Te moved, the panther’s icy blue eyes would shift to glance at him.
As soon as Miao Te was gazed at by those sapphire-like eyes, he couldn’t resist reaching over to pat its fluffy, pitch-black head. The sleek black panther remained still, neither rubbing against his hand nor looking at him, its eyes half-closed as it maintained a cool, “Fine, I’ll indulge you” attitude. Yet, the long black tail swished back and forth behind it, completely betraying its excellent mood at that moment.
The baby-faced maid stood to the side, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. She had served Lord Caesar since childhood and knew all too well his obsession with cleanliness, as well as his aloof demeanor. Apart from occasionally lifting his head to acknowledge Princess Salome when she called, giving her some face, he completely ignored everyone else.
Only his groomer was allowed to touch his fur; anyone else attempting it would be met with a single fierce glance from those icy blue eyes, sending them scurrying away in fear.
So—what on earth did Lord Ceasar see in this ordinary teenager?
As the baby-faced maid inwardly bemoaned her situation, Miao Te absentmindedly stroked the panther’s silky black fur, occasionally checking the time.
Although Princess Salome had playfully instructed him to “seduce” Major General Taylor when they arrived, Miao Te was more annoyed than concerned by her words. After all, he reasoned, there was no way the Major General, having barely escaped a dangerous situation and still nursing serious injuries, would willingly return to Mia Star, knowing full well the Mia family wanted him dead.
This time, the Major General will find an excuse not to attend the banquet. Unable to see the one she’s been longing for… oh no, I mean, her beloved, Miss Salome will probably be disappointed.
But despite thinking this, he still harboured a small hope in his heart.
What if Major General came back to save me? After all, I’m his savior. Even if it’s just to repay the favor, he shouldn’t leave me behind, right?
Pei! Don’t be so self-important. You’re no savior—if not for him, you would have died long ago. Without you dragging him down, he could have escaped on his own.
Do you think you’re so important that someone like him would risk his life to save you?
Conflicting thoughts clashed in Miao Te’s mind. One part of him insisted that Taylor would never return, while another part secretly held onto the hope that he would. The internal struggle left him feeling utterly conflicted.
As he wrestled with these thoughts, he glanced at the time again. It was almost evening, and the banquet would soon begin. Surely, all the guests had already arrived.
Perhaps… he could sneak a quick look?
Once that idea took root, he couldn’t suppress it. He glanced down at Ceasar, whose head rested peacefully in his lap. The black panther lay still, its eyes closed as if asleep.
Miao Te carefully lifted the panther’s head and placed it gently on the sofa. Then, he quietly left the room and walked to the end of the corridor, stopping by the wooden window. Peering through the carved lattice, he looked down at the banquet hall.
From his vantage point, he could see almost the entire hall. After scanning the crowd for a while, a disappointed look crossed his face.
As expected, Taylor hadn’t come…
He sighed inwardly, his gaze still reluctantly scanning the crowd. But before he could take another look, the baby-faced maid’s voice called out from the room.
“John?”
“Coming!” Miao Te quickly responded, turning away and hurrying back to the room.
In his rush, he didn’t notice that, just as he turned away, the very man he had been searching for—Major General Taylor—was stepping through the banquet hall’s main entrance.
In that split second, they narrowly missed each other.
“Where did you go, John?”
“Just stepped out for a breath of fresh air.”
“Don’t wander off. Ordinary people aren’t allowed on the second floor. Only those of the highest status can come up here. If you bump into someone important, it’ll cause trouble for the lady.”
The baby-faced maidservant had drilled this information into Miao Te’s head before they arrived, concerned he might get into trouble. He already had a rough idea of how the banquet was arranged—only those with statuses equal to the elderly Marquis could come to the second floor. No one else was allowed.
Although Major General Taylor was young, he was still just a Major General. He was still a level beneath the Marquis. If the Marquis valued him enough to personally invite him, he might have the chance to come upstairs. That would enhance his reputation and provide an opportunity to be noticed by the high-status individuals on the second floor.
But since they had already become enemies, there was no way the Marquis would extend such an invitation to him now.
***
After Miao Te left, Major General Taylor encountered Princess Salome, who had come down to the first-floor banquet hall. The two stood in the center of the room, conversing under the gaze of the entire crowd. Though it was called a conversation, it was the princess who eagerly brought up one topic after another, while the young Major General remained aloof, barely speaking, his expression indifferent as always. However, this cool demeanor didn’t bother the princess in the least. To her, simply gazing at the Major General’s pleasing face was enough to lift her spirits more than anything else could.
Had it been anyone else daring to treat her with such indifference… well, the outcome would be very different.
In short, it all comes down to one thing: If you’re good-looking, you can be as willful as you want.
The two, both possessing beauty far beyond ordinary, stood together in the hall, drawing the attention of everyone around them. No one dared to approach; they simply watched from a distance. Some were envious, others jealous, and a few even thought that the pair seemed perfectly matched.
Together, they were like a vivid painting, so stunning that one could not look away.
Salome had watched Taylor enter the hall and had noticed the few soldiers accompanying him staying behind at the entrance. They were all tall, strong, and elite soldiers, but among them, she hadn’t seen the youth rumored to have captured Taylor’s interest.
It seemed Taylor hadn’t brought the youth he was said to be infatuated with.
Salome’s emerald eyes gleamed with a subtle shift of thought.
Hmm, this seems like a perfect opportunity.
She suddenly recalled the image of that black-haired teenager, looking defiant as he said, “How do you know I can’t do it?” and couldn’t help but smile. As a princess of the Empire, her word was law. Since she had promised to let that teenager try his hand at charming the cold-hearted Major General Taylor, she naturally had to keep her word and give him a chance.
“You look quite bored. Why don’t you come to my room?” she asked with a light laugh. “I brought Ceasar with me this time. Would you like to see him?”
The moment Princess Salome extended the invitation, the surrounding guests began to buzz with excitement. Everyone knew that the last purebred “black cat” with Earth lineage remained by the princess’s side. It was a treasure of the universe, the royal family’s unique secret jewel, cherished by both the emperor and the princess. It had been guarded within the deep palace since birth, and very few people had ever seen it.
Taylor’s expression remained as indifferent as ever, but in truth, his mood was not great.
He parted his lips slightly, ready to refuse. However, before he could utter a word, an image of a blue planet flashed through his mind.
…The last creature to carry the ancient bloodline of Earth.
If it were that teenager, he would certainly want to see it.
With that thought, Taylor slowly nodded.
“Hmm. Since that’s the case, Major General Taylor, follow me,” Salome said with a smile.
As the princess of the Empire, if Salome wished to invite someone to the second floor, no one would dare stop her. Thus, under the envious gazes of the crowd, the two of them leisurely ascended the grand staircase lined with a black and gold carpet, heading towards the second floor.
The space on the second floor wasn’t large, so the two quickly crossed the short hallway and reached the door to Salome’s private room. Upon entering, the servants immediately bowed upon seeing their mistress return.
The princess’s green eyes swept across the room, narrowing with a hint of displeasure.
“Where is Ceasar… and where is John, who is supposed to be caring for him?” she asked, her voice carrying a note of irritation. It wasn’t every day that she brought Major General Taylor here. The whole way, she had been gleefully imagining how that interesting teenager would try to seduce Taylor, and what kind of reaction Taylor would have.
But now, the key person was missing?
“Uh, Princess, Lord Ceasar insisted on taking John outside, so…”
Above the second floor, there was a wide lawn, artificially cultivated, with many rare trees and flowering vines. Along the edges, virtual projections displayed endless grasslands, making it feel as if one were truly standing in the middle of a vast prairie. Caesar was quite taken with the place, having gone there twice in one day, and just now, he dragged Miao Te there again.
The maid nervously explained, glancing at her mistress’s displeased expression.
“Shall I summon Lord Ceasar back?” she asked cautiously.
Before Salome could respond, there was a soft beep. The black-haired Major General standing by the door raised his hand, and on his wrist, the screen of a brand-new data band flickered slightly.
“No need,” Taylor said after glancing at the screen.
[“Major Robin has returned to the starship.”]
Seeing the message, Taylor gave a slight nod, then issued a command.
“Prepare for departure.”
With that, he lowered his hand and nodded briefly to the princess before turning to leave without further explanation.
Tsk, how boring.
Salome, slightly disappointed that her attempt at some amusement had failed, twirled a lock of her golden hair around her finger. She could have ordered Ceasar and John to return immediately, but it was clear that Taylor had already decided to leave the banquet and had no patience to wait.
She had only been acting on a whim anyway. Now that her interest had waned, she saw no point in insisting further.
The two of them walked side by side once again, descending the grand staircase. Salome lightly lifted her skirt as she descended with elegance.
Just as they made their way down the staircase, Miao Te, accompanied by Ceasar with its sleek black fur, was heading toward the hallway from the opposite direction.
They narrowly missed each other by mere seconds.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, a strange feeling made Taylor glance back as he descended the stairs.
He caught sight of the graceful black panther walking down the hallway, along with a glimpse of a white hem peeking out from around the corner.
Was that the “purebred”?
Ignoring the flash of white, he fixed his gaze on Ceasar for a long moment before turning back and continuing his descent.
Although Taylor attended the old Marquis’s banquet, he had no intention of staying long. His return to Mia Star was partly to confront the Mia family with a firm stance, and partly to reconnect with a few subordinates still on the planet. If they were still alive, he intended to take them with him.
After all, unlike that teenager, Robin and the other elite subordinates had the skills to evade capture and survive, especially with Taylor’s diversion pulling away a significant portion of the enemy’s forces.
Since his objectives had already been achieved, the black-haired Major General naturally had no desire to continue the empty pretense with the Mia family, with whom relations had completely soured.
When he reached the bottom of the staircase, he calmly informed Princess Salome that he would be leaving early. Without even glancing at Beiat, who occasionally shot hostile looks in his direction, Taylor made his way directly toward the main door.
He walked quickly, his off-white cape flowing in a soft arc behind his tall frame.
Taylor was leaving this planet, and it would be a long time before he returned.
When he returned to this golden land once more, it would bring a storm of blood and chaos that would sweep across the entire planet.
Salome watched the handsome side profile of Taylor slowly fade into the distance with a trace of regret, but she made no move to stop him. After all, she understood Major General Taylor’s temperament well enough—part of why she liked him so much was precisely because of his cold and aloof demeanor.
With a slight sense of boredom, she twisted a lock of her golden hair, uninterested in the men and women trying to cozy up to her. She returned to the second-floor VIP lounge, settled in a quiet spot, and closed her eyes, intending to take a brief rest.
***
Meanwhile, Miao Te had returned to his room with Ceasar. Due to the slight exertion from running earlier, Ceasar was soon whisked away by the attendants for a careful bath. Before leaving, the black panther turned back and glanced at Miao Te with its icy blue eyes. Seeing that Miao Te wasn’t paying it any attention and appeared to be preparing to leave the room, Ceasar seemed a little disappointed. Yet, in its prideful manner, it refused to show it, turning its head haughtily as it allowed the attendants to lead it toward the steaming bath.
Although Miao Te had confirmed that the black-haired Major General was nowhere in sight, a sense of dissatisfaction still gnawed at him. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was on Ceasar’s bath and no one was paying him any mind, he quietly returned to the carved wooden window at the end of the hallway. Once again, he looked down into the banquet hall below.
He stood there, carefully scanning the crowd, his gaze flitting from one man’s figure to the next. What he didn’t know was that before he had reached the window, the black-haired Major General he had repeatedly missed had already headed straight for the door and left the hall.
… As expected, he didn’t come.
A sense of disappointment welled up in Miao Te’s heart, no matter how much he had tried to reason with himself. Even though he knew that Major General Taylor wasn’t likely to show up here, he couldn’t help but hold onto a sliver of hope.
But now, that small hope had been shattered by reality.
Standing by the window, looking through the carved wooden patterns at the lively scene below, his usually bright dark eyes appeared a little dim. He sighed softly, finally letting go of the small expectations he had held onto in his heart.
There was no reason to be disappointed. Taylor’s decision was the right one. After all the trouble he had gone through to escape from this planet, why would he risk returning to such a dangerous place?
Miao Te told himself this, trying to comfort himself.
But still…
Still…
Still, being abandoned like this was frustrating!
As Miao Te struggled with his thoughts and emotions, caught in a battle between reason and feeling—
Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind.
Completely caught off guard, the teenager was tightly embraced by the arms that had come out of nowhere. One hand gripped his waist, while the other clasped his shoulder, fingers digging into his flesh with such force that it made his shoulder ache.
The person behind him was tall, practically enveloping him in their embrace, pulling him so close that Miao Te’s entire body was nearly lifted off the ground. Forced to stand on his tiptoes, Miao Te instinctively tried to pry the arms away, but they were so strong that he couldn’t break free. Instead, he had to grab hold of the arm just to steady himself, clinging to it to keep his balance.
His back was pressed tightly against the person’s chest, their bodies so close that he could feel the warmth seeping through their clothes.
The embrace was so firm, that Miao Te couldn’t escape, no matter how hard he tried.
Panic rising within him, Miao Te turned his head.
As he did so, a lock of dark hair, soft and glossy like velvet, brushed gently across his cheek, leaving a cool and smooth sensation against his skin.
He turned his head and found himself staring into the deep, intense gaze of the person who had embraced him.
His eyes widened in shock as he realized who it was.
He was looking at Taylor, and Taylor was looking at him.
The young Major General’s deep sapphire-blue eyes, tinged with a shadowy darkness, were locked onto Miao Te’s face, his expression searing. At that moment, Taylor’s eyes burned brightly, as if a dark blue flame had ignited within them—a fire so fierce that it seemed as though the light of countless stars across the boundless universe had all fallen into his eyes, melting away in their brilliance.
***
Translated by NightOwll
***