10: The iceberg melts, the first subordinate

Night fell.

The lights inside the spaceship dimmed, leaving only a few emergency lights in the corridor emitting a faint blue glow.

Most people were already asleep.

After the day's life-and-death race and the night's big cleanup, everyone's physical and mental strength was pushed to the limit.

Except for Lin Qinghan.

In a corner of the common area.

Lin Qinghan curled up in her sleeping bag, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Cold.

Bone-chilling cold.

That cold didn't come from the outside; it seeped out from deep within her bone marrow.

A thin layer of white frost had formed on her eyebrows, eyelashes, and even the tips of her hair that were exposed.

Her exhaled breath instantly condensed into ice mist in the air.

"Qing... Sister Qinghan..."

Beside her, Chen Chuxia was awakened by the movement and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

By the faint light, she saw Lin Qinghan's current state and was instantly jolted awake with fear.

"Heavens! What's wrong with you?!"

Lin Qinghan's face was as pale as paper, her lips frozen purple, and her whole body resembled an ice sculpture about to shatter.

"Cold..."

Lin Qinghan forced out a single word, the sound of her teeth chattering exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"I... ability... backlash..."

In the mine during the day, she had overexerted too much Ice-attribute energy to block the zombies.

She hadn't felt anything at the time.

But by nightfall, the side effects had fully erupted.

The cold energy within her body lost control and began to frantically consume her life force.

"What to do... what to do..."

Chen Chuxia panicked.

She had a Healing-type talent, but her [Ode to Life] could only treat external injuries; it couldn't cure this kind of elemental backlash at all.

She tried to place her hand on Lin Qinghan's forehead, hoping to transmit some life energy.

"Hiss—!"

The moment she touched her, Chen Chuxia jerked her hand back.

So hot!

No, it's so cold!

It was so cold that it actually created an illusion of burning.

Lin Qinghan's body temperature had already dropped to a dangerous level.

"Must... must find a heat source..."

Chen Chuxia paced around in a panic.

"Hot water! Or fire! But we don't have anyone with a Fire-attribute talent! That F-Rank Talent who awakened a lighter is completely useless!"

"And... ordinary fire won't work either..."

Lin Qinghan's consciousness had begun to blur.

She knew her own situation.

This was the price of an S-Rank Talent.

To suppress this level of cold energy backlash, one needed a high-calorie energy source or Fire-attribute medicine specifically for the ice element.

But... on this broken spaceship, where could such a thing be found?

Despair.

Lin Qinghan closed her eyes.

Was she really going to freeze to death here?

Dying so pathetically, so silently.

She was unwilling to accept this.

"Captain..."

Chen Chuxia suddenly thought of something, her eyes lighting up.

"Go find Gu Pingsheng! He must have a way! He's so powerful; he can even upgrade the spaceship and has that magical water!"

Lin Qinghan suddenly snapped her eyes open.

Gu Pingsheng.

That cold, arrogant, yet stiflingly powerful man.

Go to him?

Beg him?

Lin Qinghan bit her lip until she tasted blood.

Her pride wouldn't allow her to bow her head to anyone.

Especially that man.

But... if she didn't go, she would die.

If she died, everything would be gone.

All her pride and persistence would turn into a speck of dust in the universe.

"Help... help me up..."

Lin Qinghan's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

Chen Chuxia hurriedly helped her up.

Lin Qinghan's body was as stiff as a stone; with every step, her joints made a tooth-aching grinding sound.

One step, two steps.

From the common area to the Captains Quarters was only a short distance of a dozen meters.

But for the current Lin Qinghan, it felt like a long road leading to hell, or perhaps heaven... At the door of the Captains Quarters.

Lin Qinghan leaned against the cold metal door, gasping for breath.

With every breath, her lungs felt like they were being sliced by knives.

She raised her hand.

That hand, which was originally slender and powerful, was now covered in white frost and trembling uncontrollably.

Knock.

If she just knocked, she might live.

But it also meant completely giving up her dignity.

Thud.

A soft sound.

It echoed in the silent corridor.

No response.

Lin Qinghan's heart sank.

Was he asleep?

Or... did he simply not want to bother?

Thud thud.

She used her last bit of strength to knock twice more.

This time, the door opened.

Sshhh—

The sound of the pressure valve hissed.

A wave of warm air rushed over her, carrying a faint scent of incense and red wine.

Gu Pingsheng stood at the door.

He wore a black silk robe, collar slightly open, revealing a firm chest. He held a goblet in his hand, the crimson liquid inside swaying gently.

His expression was lazy, his eyes calm.

As if he had known all along that she would come.

"Something the matter?"

He asked indifferently.

His gaze swept over Lin Qinghan's frosted eyebrows and pale face, showing neither surprise nor pity.

It was as if he were looking at a damaged item.

Lin Qinghan opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound.

Her throat was already frozen.

She could only use her eyes, filled with the desire to survive, to stare intently at Gu Pingsheng.

Or rather, staring at the warmth behind him.

"Want to live?"

Gu Pingsheng swirled his wine glass.

Lin Qinghan nodded with difficulty.

At that moment, she felt something shatter inside her heart.

It was the pride she had maintained for twenty years.

Gu Pingsheng smiled.

The smile didn't reach his eyes.

He stepped aside, clearing a path.

"Come in."

...The Captains Quarters were very warm.

The thermostat system maintained a comfortable 24 degrees.

As soon as Lin Qinghan entered, she collapsed onto the carpet.

That warmth enveloped her, making her almost want to cry.

Gu Pingsheng walked to the bar and set down his glass.

He opened a cabinet and took out a bottle of deep red wine.

There was no label on the bottle, but through the glass, the liquid inside seemed to be burning, with a bubble or two rising occasionally.

[Blazing Red Wine (Blue · Rare)]

[Description: A special wine brewed by the Hand of God. Contains dense fire elemental energy.]

[Effect: Dispels cold, heals Ice-attribute backlash, and significantly increases fire resistance for a short time.]

This was something he had previously produced from ordinary red wine via a critical hit.

He had originally intended to keep it for himself or use it when encountering ice-type monsters in the future.

He hadn't expected it to come in handy so soon.

Gu Pingsheng poured a glass.

As the wine entered the cup, a faint red mist actually rose up.

Holding the glass, he walked over to Lin Qinghan and looked down at her.

"This glass of wine can save your life."

His voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable coldness.

"But I am not a philanthropist."

"You should understand my rules."

Lin Qinghan looked up.

Her vision was already somewhat blurred, but she could still clearly see the indifference in the man's eyes.

A transaction.

This was a deal.

"I... will give..."

She forced out three words with all her might.

As long as she could survive, she would give anything.

Crystal cores? Supplies?

Or... her body?

If it were before, she would have felt this was an insult.

But now, she actually felt it was a form of relief.

Gu Pingsheng squatted down, his gaze level with hers.

He extended a finger and tilted up Lin Qinghan's chin.

The sensation from his fingertip was bone-chillingly cold, like touching a block of ice.

"What I want isn't that trash."

Gu Pingsheng looked into her eyes and said, word by word.

"I want you."

Lin Qinghan's pupils contracted sharply.

"From now on, you are my Adjutant."

"Your life is mine."

"Your sword is mine."

"All the spoils you hunt are mine."

"Without my permission, you cannot die, nor can you betray me."

"Can you do it?"

Gu Pingsheng held the glass to her lips.

The red liquid emitted a scorching aura, tempting her parched soul.

Lin Qinghan looked at the wine.

Then she looked at Gu Pingsheng.

Adjutant.

It sounded nice.

But in reality, it was a deed of sale.

Once she drank it, she would no longer be the aloof Campus Belle Lin, but rather this man's private property.

But... did she have a choice?

Lin Qinghan closed her eyes, and two lines of tears fell, instantly freezing into ice beads.

She reached out her trembling hands and cupped Gu Pingsheng's hand.

Along with the wine glass.

Then, she bowed her head.

From Gu Pingsheng's hand, she drank the glass of Blazing Red Wine in one gulp.

Gulp.

The scalding liquid slid down her throat.

Like a ball of fire, it instantly exploded in her stomach.

The heat flowed through her blood vessels to every part of her body, dispelling the bone-deep chill.

The frost on her eyebrows began to melt, turning into water droplets that dripped down.

Her pale complexion regained its rosy color at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Her stiff limbs regained sensation.

She was alive again.

Lin Qinghan gasped for breath, greedily feeling the temperature within her body.

Gu Pingsheng pulled back his hand.

He stood up and took out a handkerchief to wipe the water stains from his fingers.

Very good.

He said indifferently.

Lin Qinghan slowly crawled up from the floor.

She didn't stand straight but instead knelt on one knee.

She lowered her head, revealing her long, fair neck.

This was a posture of submission.

It was also an oath of loyalty.

"Yes... Captain."

Though her voice was still a bit raspy, it no longer trembled.

It carried a newfound determination.

And a hint of deep awe.

Gu Pingsheng looked at her.

This iceberg goddess, whom every boy in school once looked up to, was now kneeling at his feet.

This sense of conquest was more pleasurable than any supplies.

He reached out and helped Lin Qinghan up.

His finger brushed against her cheek, which had just regained its color, feeling the delicate and warm touch.

It was no longer a cold stone.

But a woman of flesh and blood.

"Go rest."

Gu Pingsheng withdrew his hand and turned toward the massive Star Map projection.

"Get some good rest."

"Tomorrow, there's work to be done."

Lin Qinghan was momentarily stunned.

"Tomorrow?"

Gu Pingsheng raised his hand and pointed to a location on the edge of the Star Map.

There, a crimson skull icon was flashing.

That was the high-risk signal he had just scanned through Alice's radar.

It was only half a day's journey from here.

"We're going to hunt that big guy."

Gu Pingsheng turned back, his lips curling into a bloodthirsty arc.

"Since I have an Adjutant now, I have to let you see some blood and get some practice."

"Don't I?"

Lin Qinghan looked at the red skull and felt a wave of killing intent rushing toward her.

She clenched her fists.

Although the ice energy in her body had just calmed down, it was now slightly restless with excitement.

It was a thirst for battle.

And a desire to prove her worth.

"Yes."

But at this time, she also needed to prove to Gu Pingsheng that she had other values.

She lowered her head, her cheeks inevitably flushing.

"You're tired today too; let me help you relax."