The Past (4) Even in love, military duties cannot be neglected. After their brief reunion on Capital Star, Jiang Sili and Asu Ment returned to their respective legions, beginning a long-distance relationship that spanned several star clusters.
Both were incredibly busy. Jiang Sili dealt with persistent, small-scale Zerg harassment, while Asu Ment trained recruits for future expeditions. In the Empire, there was an unwritten rule: to achieve the rank of Marshal, one had to lead at least two successful expeditions. Asu Ment’s goals were clear; her childhood trauma hadn't made her fragile, it had made her iron-willed.
In contrast, Jiang Sili was more of a "salted fish." He served to protect the White Wolves and his family. If he truly had a choice, he preferred the freedom of his pirate days. But since the borders were relatively peaceful, he frequently spent an entire day performing spatial jumps just to see Asu. A day-long journey through the nauseating, warped light of a jump engine was torture, but as his adjutant noted: compared to his persistence, the cost of fuel and money was irrelevant. The Jiangs were rich, after all.
…
Over the years, the Zerg remained a constant threat. Though the old Hive Mother was dead, new ones were born instantly. The Zerg inheritance mechanism was eternal. Males, driven by an instinct to reproduce, would often disguise themselves to infiltrate human society, leading to the birth of hybrids.
The White Wolves continued to pick up these abandoned children in secret. But now, Jiang Sili was the officer standing behind the trenches, telling curious Sentinels not to go out. He was an Imperial officer; he could no longer show his "dual nature." No one would understand a General who tried to save both sides. He learned from the women who influenced him—Zhaoyuan, Asu, and Lin Shuangxu—to simply do the work and stop asking questions that had no answers.
His relationship with Asu lasted for years. Once, he tried to propose. "We've been dating a long time. Should we consider marriage?"
Asu Ment took a heavy swig of wine. "I’m not getting married. My dad was human before marriage and a demon after—not that you’d be a demon," she added quickly, seeing his pained look. "But things are good now. What difference would a certificate make?"
Jiang Sili couldn't tell her the truth: he hated the young, vibrant recruits at her base who smiled with bright white teeth. He didn't want to sound like a jealous husband. He just wanted to be with her. "If we marry... I can apply for a transfer to your legion."
Normally, two high-ranking S-rank Sentinels were never placed in the same legion to avoid wasting resources. The only exception was a married couple, provided one gave up their active command for a logistical role. Jiang Sili was willing to give up his rank, but Asu was furious. "I won't let you waste your talent just to be with me! I don't even know if I'll love you forever. I despise people who don't take their own lives seriously."
She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth, seeing the hurt in his eyes. Jiang Sili left without a word and didn't contact her for two months.
…
Their silence was broken by a secret mission from the Empress. The Zerg and the Federation had teamed up to seize Imperial colonies. Lin Shuangxu sent Jiang Sili on a year-long mission to assassinate the Zerg Hive Mother and the Federation's leaders. It was a mission so classified that terminals were disabled and warships were controlled by Eve.
During that year, Asu Ment discovered she was pregnant. She went through the mood swings and physical discomfort of pregnancy alone. She gave birth to a daughter, Charlene Ment. When Jiang Sili finally returned—looking like a wild man with long hair and a scruffy beard—he didn't even wait to debrief with the Empress. He stole a warship and jumped toward G13.
The reunion was silent and tearful. "I'm back, Puff," he whispered. Asu kissed his forehead. All the past arguments vanished.
…
Fifteen years later, tragedy struck. Charlene, now a brave fifteen-year-old Sentinel, followed her mother on an expedition. During the chaos of battle, a young, panicked Guide mishandled Charlene’s mental grooming. The mental landscapes of both children were destroyed, and their physical bodies died soon after.
Jiang Sili arrived at the base to find his daughter in a cryo-coffin. The grief was a chasm between him and Asu.
"I should have gone with you," Jiang Sili whispered.
"Are you blaming me for making you stay at G11?" Asu hissed, her eyes bloodshot. "I wish I had never met you. Then there would be no Charlene, and I wouldn't have lost her."
Jiang Sili’s restraint snapped. "I did everything for you! I stayed where you wanted, did what you wanted, and now I wasn't even there for her! What more do you want from me?!"
In the pouring rain, they cremated their daughter.
"Let's break up," Asu said.
"Let's get married," Jiang Sili said at the same time.
He stared at her like a snake staring at the only light left in its world. "We've been tangled for so long. Let’s stay tangled. I won't let you go."
…
They married, but the distance remained. Asu’s mental rank dropped to E-rank from the trauma; she could no longer lead. She left the military to find a place where she could breathe.
Jiang Sili resigned from G11 and wandered the stars for years. He never went to the Capital, and he never went to her. They were married on paper, but strangers in spirit.
Until one day, his sister Jiang Siwei was born, bringing a small spark of joy back to his family. And then, a message arrived on his terminal from a name he hadn't seen in years. “Come to Black Tower. Help me with something.” It was Asu.
Jiang Sili stared at the coordinates for a long time, then smiled. He set his course for the land of exile.
Under the rising sun of the Black Tower base, the blonde woman watched the warship land. As Jiang Sili stepped out, it felt like their very first meeting. Her hair was still golden, her eyes were still bright, and she looked at him with the same "predatory" gaze of a woman who had finally found her target.
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