Discussing The Correct Posture To Enjoy Dog Food

Chapter 170 - Pomegranate Flavored Sentinel Gong (11)

Translated by Hua Li ^_~

The moment Xiang Muchuan gave the lovestruck Gou Liang’s cheek a gentle squeeze, any trace of jealousy he’d felt over Meng Hao’s stolen affection vanished completely.

He took Gou Liang’s hand and slipped a modified personal terminal onto his wrist. Lowering his head, he kissed the back of Gou Liang’s hand and said with a smile, “Try it—see if it feels right.”

Gou Liang’s original terminal had low-level permissions and weak security, so it had been left behind at the Xiang estate before they departed.

Xiang Muchuan hadn’t thought much of it at first. Still, after posting his “declaration of sovereignty” on StarNet, he quickly realized how important it was for Gou Liang to have a proper terminal. So he had personally customized one for him.

The specs were top-tier, and the moment Gou Liang began exploring it, he discovered all kinds of new features.

Leaning against the silver wolf’s side, Gou Liang played with the interface, eyes sparkling with curiosity. Watching him happily poke around, Xiang Muchuan didn’t have the heart to interrupt—though his real motive was to coax the little guide into joining him online for some public displays of affection… Ahem. Pretending to browse casually, he pulled up his own StarNet feed, only to find the trending topic #ThisPhotoIsDefinitelyFake!

A quick skim through the top comments among the million-plus replies made his expression darken by several degrees.

Xiang Muchuan detested people questioning his relationship with Gou Liang—but what he couldn’t stand even more was seeing his mother unfairly dragged into the crossfire.

After thinking for a moment, he opened a comm link to Madam Xiang.

At that time, Madam Xiang was wrapping up her conversation with the Yuan family.

“So, that’s how everything happened,” she said kindly. “Xiao Wang’s a quiet child, never one to show off. Muchuan and I both respect his nature. But as his family—his strongest support—I hope you won’t judge him by something as shallow as appearance or look down on his future.”

Seeing the three Yuans sitting there, stunned speechless, Madam Xiang felt both helpless and a bit heartsore.

How blind must they have been, she thought, to overlook all the wonderful things about Xiao Wang? To make him lose trust in them and shut his heart so completely?

“Madam,” the butler interrupted her thoughts softly, “a call from the Young Commander.”

Her eyes immediately lit up. The moment the call connected, she asked eagerly, “Son, where’s my daughter-in-law?”

Xiang Muchuan, just about to greet her, froze for half a second before quietly turning the camera toward Gou Liang.

At that moment, Gou Liang was utterly engrossed in the intelligent assistant program on his new terminal—a holographic baby modeled after Xiang Muchuan himself. Having gone so long without getting to play with such a thing, he was all smiles, completely ignoring the silver wolf’s tail wagging insistently around him.

What Madam Xiang saw was a beautiful young man leaning against a silver wolf, smiling softly—so breathtakingly lovely it made her heart melt.

Her gaze grew instantly warmer; on reflex, she took a snapshot of the video call before greeting, “Good afternoon, Xiao Wang.”

Startled, Gou Liang quickly shut off the terminal, then straightened up into a kneeling posture and replied obediently, “Good afternoon, Mom.”

Madam Xiang’s smile grew even brighter. “How have you been lately, Xiao Wang? Has Muchuan been treating you well? If he ever bullies you, you must tell me—I’ll make sure he learns his lesson.”

Whoever dared bully such an adorable treasure—yes, even if it were her own son—she’d give him a good beating!

In that instant, Gou Liang officially surpassed everyone to become Madam Xiang’s number one favorite—sorry, Marshal Xiang, your scruffy and unshaven self for many years isn’t even qualified to appear in the food chain.

Gou Liang smiled shyly, glanced at Xiang Muchuan, who had sat down beside him, and said softly, “He’s very good.”

The sweetness in his eyes was so obvious that it made Xiang Muchuan lean in and kiss the dimple on his cheek.

Blushing, Gou Liang ducked his head, and Madam Xiang, seeing the tender exchange, felt utterly at ease. Only then did she remember to ask, smiling, “Muchuan, what did you want to talk to me about?”

“Mom,” Xiang Muchuan said, “have you finalized our wedding date yet?”

Madam Xiang blinked in surprise—her son bringing up the wedding himself, and so impatiently at that, was unexpected.

She gave him a teasing look, then caught sight of Gou Liang’s wide, expectant eyes and swallowed her teasing words. “I’ve drafted a few dates,” she said instead. “But I’m worried about the war in the Nelson system… Your father might not be able to return on time.”

Xiang Muchuan considered the list for a moment, then pointed to one date. “I’m well aware of the situation in Nelson. Ten days from now, I’ll finish my inspection duties and head to join Father. We’ll return together before the ceremony.”

Hearing that, Madam Xiang was overjoyed—she said “good” three times in a row!

After hanging up, she was still smiling ear to ear. Turning to the Yuan family, she said cheerfully, “Muchuan’s even more eager than I am! He just called to push me to set the wedding date.”

Because she’d switched the comm to private mode—worried her son might mention military details—the Yuans could hear only her voice, not Xiang Muchuan’s. Still, learning that the wedding wasn’t postponed indefinitely but already had a confirmed date, they couldn’t hide their relief and delight.

Meanwhile, Gou Liang continued happily playing with his holographic baby.

Xiang Muchuan, indulgent as ever, let him enjoy it for a while before quietly getting up to handle his duties. The poor, neglected Little Pink—his own tiny spirit wolf—bit onto Xiang Muchuan’s pant leg in protest and was carried off dangling as a reluctant “leg accessory.”

“Weike, inform all officers at the colonel rank and above to attend a meeting.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The patrol mission couldn’t be interrupted. Once he ensured the safety of the rear sector, he would head to join his father.

There was still much to arrange before then.

Soon, Li Weike, Yao Zicong, and the others arrived. As they sat, a star map of the Nelson System appeared—but before Xiang Muchuan could begin the briefing, a special notification popped up from StarNet.

Yuan Wang:56 days, 18 hours, 29 minutes, 37 seconds.

// @XiangMuchuanV: Thank you for coming into my life…

It was a live countdown—each second ticking away couldn’t begin to express the anticipation in Gou Liang’s heart. Xiang Muchuan, feeling the same longing, smiled faintly.

Fifty-six days. He had never imagined time could feel so impossibly long.

Across StarNet, netizens stared at the countdown with a growing sense of dread. Someone even snarked, “What is this, a breakup timer? LOL, let’s celebrate early!”

However, even the most slow-witted among them knew that was impossible.

So, after being force-fed a mouthful of bitter envy wrapped in dog food, the netizens were once again struck by a wave of overwhelming sweetness.

@Madam Xiang:October 18th—Mom will make sure you two have the most beautiful wedding. 💋

// @Yuan WangV:56 days, 18 hours, 28 minutes, 17 seconds. // @Xiang MuchuanV:Thank you… for coming into my life.

The wedding date was officially set.

And just like that, the countdown to “losing my husband” began, synced perfectly with Gou Liang’s post.

*

Ten days later, Nelson System.

The last time they had come here, it had been a rushed operation—Gou Liang and the others hadn’t even stayed long in the Litt family’s headquarters. But now, they arrived in broad daylight, upright and unhurried.

With the inclusion of Tut among the eleven natural and artificial planets, half the Nelson System was already reclaimed into Imperial territory under Marshal Xiang’s campaign.

Having been reminded by his adjutant that he would soon be meeting his daughter-in-law, the Marshal had actually gone so far as to shave his beard.

That had been two days ago.

Which meant that when Gou Liang finally met him, Papa Xiang was once again sporting his trademark rugged stubble.

Even through the beard, Gou Liang could still see the resemblance between father and son. His gaze lingered for a few moments.

Xiang Muchuan, misreading the look as surprise, patted his head and said, “Don’t worry. I take after my mom.”

Madam Xiang had once declared that guides liked sentinels who exuded masculine pheromones—but not those who looked like walking hormone factories with overgrown beards.

She’d said it when Muchuan was still a child, but her look of disgust and his father’s crushed expression had clearly left a deep impression. He’d never forgotten it—and had taken it to heart.

The unkempt Marshal Xiang happened to catch that line as he walked in. Wiping his chin, he suddenly remembered he’d forgotten to shave that morning.

Shooting his son a glare, he turned to Gou Liang with a hearty laugh. “Son-in-law, don’t listen to his nonsense. Men with beards aren’t scary at all.”

Gou Liang pressed his lips together, smiled, and said softly, “Hello, Papa Xiang—Dad.”

“Just call me Dad, no need to be formal.” The Marshal’s booming laughter filled the hall. “This rascal’s so lazy—when he’s out, he only eats nutrient paste. You must’ve suffered a lot with him, huh? I had the kitchen prepare a full table of real food for you. Come on, let’s go eat. And you, brat—how could you make your guide eat that dog-shit-tasting stuff all day?”

“Dad, you’ve never eaten dog shit.”

“…,” said Marshal Xiang, speechless mid-lecture.

Gou Liang broke into laughter.

As it turned out, the Marshal was remarkably easy to get along with.

He wasn’t strict with the younger generation either. As he himself liked to say, he and his wife were two blazing fires—so how on earth had they given birth to such a block of ice?

But after seeing how gentle and attentive his son was toward Gou Liang, Marshal Xiang realized he’d been wrong for twenty-eight years. This kid wasn’t cold—he’d just buried all that inherited passion deep in his heart, and it burned for one person alone.

After a brief welcome meal, Xiang Muchuan left the silver wolf with Gou Liang and took the little pink pup with him when he departed.

—For 100% compatible pairs, distance didn’t matter. Their spirits were always linked through their manifested forms.

Marshal Xiang studied the tiny pink creature curiously. “Never heard of a pink spiritual body before. Haha, looks like Yuan Wang’s got a bit of a girly side to him.”

Xiang Muchuan was not amused.

He knew his little guide too well—Gou Liang might look mild and shy, but in truth, he was indifferent to most things and hardly had a ‘girly’ bone in his body.

Still, as his father spoke, Xiang Muchuan absentmindedly let the pink pup gnaw on his fingers and lick them. His expression stayed calm, but the softness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Marshal Xiang blinked in disbelief.

Is he just doting on it because it’s part of his lover’s spirit? Or have they both failed to notice my son’s… questionable preferences?

Startled by his own imagination, he quickly shook the thought away.

Xiang Muchuan gave him a suspicious look.

He was long used to his father’s wild trains of thought and knew that whatever the man was currently imagining, he probably didn’t want to hear it. Steering the topic back on track, he said, “Dad, what’s the situation with the Litt Legion?”

Marshal Xiang sobered immediately. “They took a heavy hit. Jack Litt alone won’t be able to rebuild for at least twenty or thirty years. As long as the Zerg don’t stir up trouble, taking full control of Nelson is only a matter of time. But let’s set that aside.” He glanced at his son. “What about you? After merging with your guide, have you felt any sign of a breakthrough?”

Xiang Muchuan shook his head.

Marshal Xiang frowned slightly, then clapped him on the shoulder. “No big deal. Why look so grim?”

“That whole theory about 100% bonded pairs becoming Super-S Sentinels—it’s just speculation by so-called experts. No one knows if it’s real. In five thousand years of the Empire, there’s only ever been one Super-S, Emperor Li Wei. Whether that was due to his guide or something else entirely, who can say? Don’t pressure yourself—and don’t pressure your guide, either. Take your time. Even if it never happens, it doesn’t matter.”

Xiang Muchuan hesitated for a moment, then asked quietly, “Dad, how did you and Mom complete your spiritual fusion?”

“How? There’s no secret to it. Once I touched her spiritual field, it just… happened.” Then he paused, eyes narrowing. “Wait—don’t tell me you and Yuan Wang haven’t fused yet?”

When Xiang Muchuan nodded, the Marshal’s brows knitted tight. “That’s impossible. I’ve never heard of a Sentinel and Guide who couldn’t merge—especially not a pair with 100% compatibility. Unless…” His eyes widened slightly. “Unless your level’s too high for a B-class guide to contain?”

“Yuan Wang is an S-level Guide,” Xiang Muchuan finally admitted.

Marshal Xiang, who’d read in the Imperial Guide Registry that Gou Liang was only recorded as B-level, was caught completely off guard. His expression shifted to something strange as he studied his son.

“…You didn’t do something to frighten him, did you?”

Something like forcing the bond—or, heaven forbid, maybe the equipment didn’t… match up? The Marshal’s eyes flicked down toward his son’s lower half, thinking darkly, Could it be that the poor guide got hurt because of that?

Knowing his father all too well, Xiang Muchuan’s face froze. “Whatever you’re imagining, it didn’t happen.”

The older man gave a sheepish chuckle and rubbed his nose, but when he thought of his son’s problem, his tone grew more serious. “I’ve heard that S-level Guides possess immense spiritual force—their power can rival even an S-class Sentinel’s. If he doesn’t want to merge, forcing it would be useless—”

“It’s not his fault,” Xiang Muchuan interrupted. “Dad, I can feel it—his feelings for me are the same as mine for him.”

Just thinking about the way Gou Liang’s eyes filled with tears after every failed attempt made his chest ache.

Sensing his emotions, the little pink pup began licking his fingers more urgently, soothing the faint turbulence in his spirit. Xiang Muchuan’s expression softened; he gently stroked the creature until it quieted down again, then looked up and smiled faintly. “It’s fine, Dad. We’ll let it happen naturally.”

Seeing his son so deeply devoted left the Marshal honestly astonished.

They hadn’t even known each other for that long, yet Gou Liang had already inspired such a powerful sense of belonging and love in his son… This guide clearly wasn’t ordinary.

Burying his fleeting unease, the Marshal finally said, “I suppose that’s all you can do.”

But Xiang Muchuan had caught that flicker of doubt in his father’s eyes. His tone turned solemn. “Dad, I hope you won’t misunderstand Yuan Wang.”

“He’s… extraordinary. Dad, I’m living better now than I ever have—happier than I’ve ever been. I think I finally understand what you meant when you told me as a kid that happiness takes a different shape for everyone. For you, it’s Mom and me, and the peace of the Empire. For me…” His voice softened. “It’s him.”

“I want him to live without worry. I want him to smile. That’s the happiness I want.”

…Ugh, QAQ.

Gou Liang couldn’t see the earnest look on his face, but even so, he was moved enough to—well—bite the silver wolf’s tail.

【Xiao Si, exchange for a dose of reagent neutralizer.】

【Okay, master—wait, WHAT?! You mean the blocking agent in your body didn’t even need an antidote to wear off?! YOU LIED TO ME!!】

The system went ballistic.

【Gou Liang shot it a look full of condescension across their IQ gap: “You couldn’t figure out something that simple—how is that my fault?”】

【The system fumed, deliberately withholding the reagent: “Weren’t you furious at the Main God for bankrupting you? Why aren’t you sticking to your revenge plan?”】

【Gou Liang smiled. “Well, I’ve realized Xiang Muchuan is way cuter than soul coins. Even thirty billion of them can’t compare.”】

【System: …Hmph.】

While Xiang Muchuan wrapped up his conversation with his father and turned back to discuss the war front, he had no idea that a very big surprise was waiting for him just ahead.

Honestly…Xiao Si, you are not alone. Liangliang fooled me, too. I thought no soul fusion and was consoling myself that it was fine, but I did not expect him to do this. Anyway, ☆*: .｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆