Su Yaoyao slowly opened her eyes. An intense wave of vertigo made her instinctively raise a hand to her temples, but the cold metal and heavy tug at her wrist shocked her fully awake.

The first thing she saw was the cold gleam of metal. She was trapped in a giant birdcage, its thick, cold bars like shackles caging her freedom.

Heavy chains were fastened around her wrists and ankles. With every movement, they let out a jarring clang that echoed through the vast, deathly silent space.

"W-Where... Where am I?" she murmured weakly. Her voice was hoarse and trembling, sounding utterly helpless in the silence.

"Awake?" A deep, cold male voice suddenly rang out, reverberating in the enclosed space and making Su Yaoyao shudder.

She struggled to prop up her weak body, leaning slowly against the cold bars as she looked toward the source of the voice.

In the shadows not far from the birdcage, she could vaguely make out a man sitting on a sofa.

His figure was cloaked in darkness, like a predator lying in wait. Only his pair of dark green eyes glinted with a cold, sinister light that sent a chill down one’s spine.

The man’s long fingers toyed with a sharp dagger. Its blade flashed coldly in the dim light, each flip tracing a deadly arc through the air.

"Who are you? Why am I locked in here? Where are Bai Lian and the others?"

Tears welled in Su Yaoyao’s eyes. Anger and fear warred within her, making her body tremble.

The memories of what happened before she passed out flooded Su Yaoyao’s mind.

The Flying Ship they were on had been attacked. There was a massive explosion, fire, and then the ship lost control, plummeting toward an unknown, barren world.

’Could the man before me be responsible for all this?’

The corners of Mingye’s lips quirked up into a mocking smirk, a smile devoid of any warmth, as if ridiculing Su Yaoyao’s ignorance and naivete.

"So many questions at once. I hardly know which to answer first." His voice was low and raspy, like rubbing sandpaper. "But... do I have any reason to answer you at all?"

The man stood and slowly approached the birdcage, his footsteps steady yet oppressive.

His features gradually emerged from the shadows.

A high-bridged nose, thin, pursed lips, and sharp, upswept brows. His narrow green eyes radiated a bone-chilling cold.

He had short, neatly-cut teal hair and radiated a dangerous, keep-your-distance aura.

Even more terrifying was the snake tattoo on the side of his neck. It looked alive, its tongue flicking out, its cold gaze filled with aggression.

It looked as if it would lunge forward at any moment and viciously tear out an enemy’s throat.

Mingye looked down on Su Yaoyao, his eyes filled with disdain and contempt, as if he were staring at a worthless ant.

"What you should be thinking about right now is how you’re going to survive me." His voice was bone-chilling, devoid of all emotion.

"A mere female, yet you had two Admirals from the Empire’s First Military Base for an escort. That means you’re special."

Mingye’s gaze was like a sharp blade, sweeping over Su Yaoyao as if trying to see right through her.

Su Yaoyao pressed her lips together. She remembered the warnings she had been given over and over: she must never let anyone know about her powerful spiritual power.

It was her last trump card—and her key to survival.

"I’m just an ordinary female." She tried to make her voice sound steady, but the slight tremor in her tone betrayed her nervousness.

Mingye sneered, a sound that seemed to crawl up from the depths of Hell. "From the moment a female is born, her data is entered into the Star Network. She becomes a high-priority protected individual."

"And yet, there’s no record of you on the Star Network. Which means... any male can claim you as his own, or even kill you, without violating the Female Protection Act."

His every word was like a sledgehammer, striking her heart with brutal force.

As he spoke, Mingye slowly crouched down. The movement seemed gentle, yet it radiated an endless, oppressive aura. He used the tip of his dagger to lift the little female’s chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.

The moment their eyes met, Su Yaoyao felt as if a cold, venomous snake were coiling around her. A bone-deep terror spread from the pit of her stomach through her entire body, and she couldn’t stop shivering.

"You have only one choice now: convince me not to kill you." Mingye’s voice was low and cold, like a death sentence.

Su Yaoyao bit down on her pale lower lip, feeling a sinister chill on her neck. She had no doubt this man was perfectly capable of killing her.

"I... I have a calming ability," Su Yaoyao stammered, flustered. It was the only bargaining chip she could think of.

Mingye’s expression didn’t so much as flicker. The answer was just what he’d expected.

"I’m SS-level. The calming of an ordinary female is useless on me." His tone was flat, yet filled with unshakable confidence.

As he spoke, he pressed the blade closer to her neck. The sharp tip nearly broke her skin.

Another fraction of an inch and it would easily slice her throat open.

Fear washed over her like a tidal wave, drowning her completely. She squeezed her eyes shut and screamed at the top of her lungs, "I’m S-Class!"

Mingye raised an eyebrow. A flicker of light, almost imperceptible, flashed in his eyes, as if they had finally landed on a topic that truly interested him.

"How can you prove it?" A hint of anticipation crept into his voice, as if he were waiting for an interesting performance.

Su Yaoyao was terrified, her heart still hammering in her chest. She forced herself to calm down and said quickly, "You can test me with a Spiritual Power Detector."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Mingye lifted a hand and tapped his ear in a smooth, natural motion. His low voice was transmitted clearly: "Bring me a Spiritual Power Detector."

Su Yaoyao’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the silver, snake-shaped stud in his ear. ’Is that his Light Computer?’ she wondered.

Instinctively, Su Yaoyao reached up to touch her neck, only to find that the necklace—her Light Computer from Bai Lian—was gone.

The small movement didn’t escape Mingye’s notice. He scoffed, "Did you think I’d be stupid enough to leave you your Light Computer to send a distress signal?"

His words left Su Yaoyao speechless. She was fuming and anxious, but there was nothing she could do.

Finally, she let out a helpless sigh. After composing herself, she summoned her courage and said, "Then I just have one question. What happened to the others on the Flying Ship?"

"Dead." Mingye’s reply was curt and cold, devoid of any emotion.

Su Yaoyao felt a sharp pain pierce her heart. Her breathing grew ragged, and the world before her eyes quickly faded to black.

Her body slumped forward uncontrollably as she fell unconscious once more.

Mingye’s pupils dilated. A rare trace of panic flickered across his face as he instantly withdrew the dagger. ’Who faints onto the edge of a blade?’

At the same time, his other hand shot out to steady her falling body.

After that close call, Mingye couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief.

"You can die after I’ve tested your spiritual power. And if you’re lying to me, I’ll be the one to personally send you on your way."