Fate's Favorite

Some people seem to be born as fate's favorites.

While alive, they are blessed by gods; when dead, they are sheltered by devils. Even if they were unscrupulous in their past life, they can still get a chance to turn the tables against all odds.

Erlitu was just like that.

It was early morning. The lazy sunlight spilled into the bedroom. When he slowly woke up on the soft bed, what met his eyes was a set of furnishings that were both strange and familiar. He glanced around and quickly recognized this as his former residence on the Third-Class Star. The corners of his lips calmly curved into an arc.

[How is it, are you satisfied with everything you see?]

A deep, bewitching voice suddenly rang out from the air, seeming somewhat abrupt. A long, entirely black snake had, at some unknown point, slithered up from the foot of the bed and elegantly raised its upper body. Its scarlet pupils gleamed with a magnificent luster in the sunlight, but its head was a dangerous triangular shape, making one dare not underestimate it.

Erlitu remembered this voice.

When he was buried by quicksand after his death, it was this voice that had conversed with his soul. The other party had promised him a chance at rebirth. He had originally thought it was a hallucination, but unexpectedly, it was real.

Erlitu stared at the Black Snake before him with a playful gaze, showing not the slightest hint of panic. Instead, a strong interest rose within him. "You're the one who helped me be reborn?"

The Black Snake grunted. [There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Do you remember our agreement?]

Of course, Erlitu remembered. He raised an eyebrow faintly. "You want me to win Anmi's heart and then ruthlessly dump him, so as to obtain the pain he feels in that instant of being abandoned. But... can you tell me why?"

The Black Snake's tone was compassionate. [There is too much pain in the world. Isn't it good that I help them by devouring some of it?]

Erlitu retorted, "Are you a god?"

The Black Snake lightly flicked the tip of its tail, its tone full of malice, and looked provocatively at Erlitu. [No, I am a devil.]

Unexpectedly, Erlitu smiled in satisfaction. "Then I wish us a happy collaboration."

With that, he whipped off the covers with a 'swoosh' and got out of bed, walking directly to the window. The warm sunlight from outside shone in, warming a person to their very bones. Erlitu, however, paid it no mind. He lowered his head, picked up the calendar ornament on the desk to check the time, wanting to know when he had been reborn to.

New Star Calendar 3768, June 10th.

This was a special year.

In this year, the Star Beasts in the Pollution Zone bred rampantly, broke through the outer defense lines, and began to slaughter the inhabitants. The first to be hit were the Third-Class Stars with their harsh environments. At the same time, a letter arrived from the Soland Family, proactively inviting them to move to the Imperial Star and fulfill the marriage arrangement from years ago.

Outside the window, the sunlight was warm. From time to time, a few ugly-looking White-Resting Birds flew past. They loved to eat carrion and would suddenly fly in through the window to attack, pecking out people's eyeballs.

This meant countless deaths and decay.

Erlitu's eyes narrowed slightly. He took a silver handgun from the drawer, skillfully loaded the magazine, aimed at the sky, and crisply pulled the trigger. Along with a series of loud 'bang bang bang' gunshots, a mist of blood burst forth. Three White-Resting Birds shrieked, flapped their wings, and fell straight down from outside the window.

This meant his new life at this moment.

Grandpa Meng Luo heard the commotion coming from the bedroom. He stood outside and knocked on the door, his aged voice unable to hide its sternness. "Erlitu, are you secretly playing with the gun again?!"

Because of the harsh environment of the Third-Class Star, there were occasional Star Beast invasions, so gun control was not strict. For safety, almost every resident was equipped with a gun for self-defense. However, Meng Luo did not allow his two grandsons to play with such dangerous things at home.

"I'm not, Grandpa."

Erlitu put the cold, heavy gun back into the drawer with a reverse grip, then walked over and opened the bedroom door. A spirited, white-haired old man was standing behind the door. His left eyeball was cloudy, with faint scar tissue, clearly blind. At his feet crouched a robust and fierce white tiger. Although it also appeared old, its imposing manner was hard to conceal—

This was Grandpa Meng Luo's Spiritual Body, a white tiger.

It was also one of the top ten most lethal rare animals among Sentinel Spiritual Bodies.

Back then on the battlefield, if Meng Luo hadn't lost an eye saving his comrade-in-arms, Soland, and been forced to retire from the Military Department, he might have long since established illustrious merits with this ferocious white tiger Spiritual Body, instead of huddling on this remote and desolate Third-Class Star to live out the rest of his life.

A hero in his twilight years, nothing more.

Seeing his grandfather, whom he hadn't seen for a long time in his memories, Erlitu was lost in a daze for a moment. "Sorry, a few White-Resting Birds flew outside the window just now, so I fired."

Grandpa Meng Luo snorted heavily. He seemed like a grumpy old man. "I'm only blind in one eye, not deaf. I heard their wings flapping through the door just now. I told you long ago to install wire mesh on the outside of your window, but you just wouldn't listen!"

On this planet, there were roughly three types of people: Sentinels, known for their powerful bodies; Guides, with immense Spiritual Power; and ordinary people. Due to the special nature of the first two, the heavy responsibility of protecting the country often fell on their shoulders.

Ordinary people would begin to differentiate at the age of eighteen. If they were lucky enough to become a Sentinel or a Guide, they would receive a large government subsidy. But at the same time, they must also participate in three years of military service, go to the Imperial Star's military academy for training, and head to the front lines of the battlefield.

On the battlefield, your Spiritual Body is your best partner.

A Sentinel's Spiritual Body is mostly a fierce carnivorous animal, like Grandpa Meng Luo, whose Spiritual Body is a white tiger skilled in combat. A Guide's Spiritual Body, on the other hand, is mostly a herbivorous animal, such as a rabbit, a sheep, or an elk.

But regardless of whether these Spiritual Bodies are herbivorous or carnivorous, they can play a huge role in daily life. If a White-Resting Bird were to secretly fly into the bedroom, they would immediately warn their master and pounce to kill the attacker.

However, Erlitu's situation was rather special. Although he successfully awakened as a Guide at the age of eighteen, he had a congenital defect and did not have his own Spiritual Body. This meant it was best for him to be like an ordinary person and weld wire mesh outside his window when sleeping at night to prevent those detestable White-Resting Birds from flying into his bedroom.

But he hadn't. Outside the window was empty; pushing it open revealed a boundless sea of clouds.

Erlitu smiled slightly. "Grandpa, I don't think sleeping soundly is a good thing. Likewise, staying alert at all times during sleep isn't a bad thing either."

It is said that a Spiritual Body is an existence more loyal to oneself than one's own soul, never betraying you for all eternity. But Erlitu was born without such a thing, which led him to be naturally indifferent, meticulous, and suspicious, never easily trusting anyone.

This personality had saved him many times, but it had also caused him to miss out on many things.

For example, Anmi, who wanted to kill him, and for example, Yin Lai, who died to save him.

Yin Lai...

Erlitu silently repeated this name in his heart, with an unknown emotion hidden within. He unconsciously raised a hand to caress his lips, where the fleshy sensation of biting off the other's little finger seemed to linger, rotten and yet fishy-sweet.

In this life, in what manner should they meet, and with what kind of ending should it conclude?

But before Erlitu could think of an answer, Grandpa Meng Luo's voice interrupted his reverie. "Since you're awake, don't coop yourself up in your room. Come out for breakfast."

Erlitu returned to his senses, the smile on his face unchanged. "Yes, Grandpa."

The Third-Class Star was backward and remote, with more paupers and criminals living here than flies. Erlitu's family was considered relatively well-off, living in a clean and tidy affluent area. A four-story villa was already better than what most people on this planet had. They even had a maid to cook every day; it was no exaggeration to say they were well-provided for.

The long dining table was set with five dishes and a soup, but only an old man and a young man were seated, making it seem overly deserted and pitiful. Grandpa Meng Luo's brow was tightly furrowed. Halfway through the meal, he finally couldn't help but slam his chopsticks down. "What about that guy Fei Ang? Why isn't he down for breakfast yet?! Go drag him down for me!"

Decades of military life had left too many marks on him. Even for meals, everyone had to be present, adhering to those rigid disciplines.

Upon hearing this, the white tiger, which had been napping on the floor, immediately stood up, shook its beautiful fur, and shot upstairs with a 'swoosh'. Not long after, a scream was heard, and it came running down quickly, holding a blond man's collar in its mouth. It casually tossed him onto the floor and then lay down again at Meng Luo's feet.

Seeing this, Meng Luo showed a rare, benevolent smile on his face, and even the fierce scar over his left eye seemed to become amiable. He patted the white tiger's head. "Well done, old comrade."

The white tiger snorted, very pleased with itself.

Fei Ang felt extremely wronged upon seeing this scene. He adjusted the black-framed glasses on his nose, got up from the floor while rubbing his rear, and limped over to sit down at the dining table. He started complaining, "Grandpa, what are you doing? I was looking for a map of Moli Island in a book and was just about to find it!"

Fei Ang was Erlitu's older brother. He had differentiated into an A-rank Guide at eighteen, but he didn't care much for his talent. His mind was entirely focused on geological surveys, and he loved researching those strange, undeveloped areas, which couldn't help but make people sigh at the waste of a great gift.

Meng Luo felt that this grandson was so stupid it was maddening, wishing he could pry open his head to see if it was filled with paste. Hearing his words, he cursed furiously, "Is your brain filled with shit?! Moli Island was sunk by bombing long ago because of the Ant Beast infestation, and it was me who personally led the team to sink it back then! What kind of bullshit book could you find a map in?!"

"Sit down and eat properly right now, or I'll tear that damn book to shreds and stuff it in your mouth!"

Fei Ang didn't dare to make another sound after hearing that. He immediately lowered his head and hurriedly shoveled food into his mouth. His Spiritual Body was a Snow Velvet Cave Mouse, pure white all over, looking like a large chinchilla. It was best at digging tunnels. At this moment, it was also squatting on a corner of the table, holding a piece of bread crisp in its two small paws and nibbling on it. Its eyes were black and watery, innocently cute like black glass.

"Crunch—crunch—crunch—"

Erlitu sat opposite them, eating quietly with an elegant posture. Hearing the sounds from across the table, he silently counted to three in his mind:

1, 2, 3...

"What a sin! I've been brilliant my whole life, my Spiritual Body is the rarest white tiger, and I was famous in the Military Department back in the day. I never thought one generation would be worse than the last. I finally have a grandson, and his Spiritual Body is actually a burrowing mouse!! If word gets out, where will I put my old face!!"

Meng Luo had been proud his entire life and had never lost to anyone. Even now, retired to a Third-Class Star, the wall full of military medals was enough for the old man to straighten his back with pride. However, every time his grandson Fei Ang's white mouse Spiritual Body appeared, it would shatter his pride to pieces. Pounding his chest and stamping his feet was not enough to vent even one-ten-thousandth of his frustration.

The Snow Velvet Rat didn't understand why this old man suddenly started pounding his chest and stamping his feet while eating. It tilted its head in confusion and let out a small squeak:

"Squeak—?"

Seeing this, Fei Ang quickly scooped up his Spiritual Body and hid it under the dining table. His face was flushed red, unsure if from embarrassment or shame. For the countless time, he skillfully lowered his head and admitted his mistake. "Grandpa, I was wrong."

'Sob, sob, he didn't want his Spiritual Body to be a mouse either.'

Erlitu sat beside them eating calmly, not saying a word. He didn't even have a Spiritual Body; Meng Luo would probably feel even more ashamed. However, seeing that Fei Ang was too scared to even breathe, he still spoke up to persuade:

"Grandpa, a Guide's most important job is to provide Spiritual Guidance for Sentinels. The Empire won't send them to the battlefield. You don't need to worry so much."

Meng Luo sighed heavily. How could he be worried about that? "Two days ago, Soland suddenly wrote a letter inviting our whole family to live on the Imperial Star. It's most likely to discuss the marriage arrangement that was set back then. With Fei Ang looking so foolish, how can I be at ease sending him to the Imperial Star to get married!"

He brought up the marriage so suddenly that the air at the dining table instantly froze. At that moment, it wasn't just Fei Ang; even Erlitu looked up.

"Marriage? So soon?!"

Fei Ang's expression was stunned. He clearly hadn't expected his grandfather to suddenly announce this at the dinner table. "But... but Grandpa, I don't want to be matched with a partner right now. Besides, I already booked an expedition ticket to Ketonini Iceland last week. The team is about to set off and won't be back for half a year..."

"What did you say?! An expedition?!"

Meng Luo was instantly furious, his irascible appearance resembling a fierce tiger. "You get lost even when visiting relatives, and now you want to go on an expedition?! Who will protect you if you run into danger?! Are you relying on that stupid mouse that nibbles on bread all day?!"

The Snow Velvet Rat hidden in Fei Ang's arms squeaked in dissatisfaction, as if in protest, "Squeak!"

Fei Ang quickly covered its mouth and stammered out an explanation, "Grandpa, the tour group has arranged for accompanying protection personnel. Besides, Iceland is just a little cold; there won't be any danger."

Meng Luo didn't at all think this slow-witted and timid grandson was suited for an expedition. His tone was low and stern. "You make it sound so easy. If you really encounter danger, who do you expect to save you?! God?! The marriage with the Soland Family was decided long ago. You have to agree whether you agree or not!"

Fei Ang was at an age where he loved adventure and had no interest in marriage. Hearing this, he lowered his head, pinched his Snow Velvet Rat's paws, and muttered discontentedly, "Their family holds a pivotal position on the Imperial Star; they certainly don't lack choices for a partner. Maybe Grandpa Soland just wants to invite you over to reminisce about the old days and has no intention of forming a marriage alliance with us at all."

Erlitu remained silent the whole time. It wasn't until he heard this sentence that he finally raised his eyelids to look at Fei Ang. He arched an eyebrow slightly, suddenly discovering that this bookish older brother wasn't as foolish as he had imagined; he was quite wise beneath the foolish exterior.

In this world where Guides were rare, Fei Ang's qualifications were certainly excellent. However, the Imperial Star was paved with gold; the one thing it didn't lack was geniuses. Fei Ang's A-rank test paper, if thrown in, might not even make a splash.

Erlitu was very willing to believe in the sincerity and goodwill of his grandfather's comrade-in-arms. Otherwise, the other party wouldn't have sent a special letter inviting them to settle on the Imperial Star after learning about the harsh environment of the Third-Class Star.

However, time had flown. These two old men were, after all, no longer the high-spirited young men they once were. As Soland gradually rose to a high position and supported a huge family on his own, what he had to consider was not just personal wishes, but more so the family's development—

Fei Ang, who had no background, was clearly not the Soland Family's best choice, to say nothing of the congenitally flawed Erlitu.

This reasoning couldn't have been simpler; even a bookworm like Fei Ang could understand it. Yet, the Erlitu of the previous life stubbornly refused to believe it and insisted on fighting for this marriage slot. As it turned out, even though he eventually got it, it was merely a useless prize.

When Meng Luo heard Fei Ang's words, his face instantly darkened. He had been on the battlefield in his youth, and his imposing aura remained even in old age. He chided in a deep voice, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

He was truly angry.

But Erlitu knew very well it wasn't because of the marriage, but simply because his grandfather felt that his comrade's credibility and character had been insulted, especially since these words came from his own grandson.

But Fei Ang, in a rare show of stubbornness, stood up from his chair with a 'swoosh' and said with his neck stiffened, "In any case, I'm not interested in this marriage. You said it yourself, I'm foolish and stupid, completely unsuited to go to the Imperial Star!"

With that, he directly hugged his mouse, turned around, and went back upstairs. He slammed the door behind him and hid inside, refusing to come out.

Seeing this, Meng Luo slammed the table in anger. "If you've got the guts, then stay in there for the rest of your life! I absolutely do not agree to that ridiculous Iceland expedition! Erlitu, keep an eye on Fei Ang. Don't let him take a single step out of that room!"

This cozy breakfast ended on a sour note. Not only did Fei Ang hide upstairs and refuse to come out, but even Grandpa Meng Luo stormed off in a huff, leaving Erlitu sitting alone at the dining table in the vast living room.

It was at this moment that the Black Snake appeared out of thin air. It silently slithered in front of Erlitu, hissing and flicking its bright red tongue, its voice gentle yet holding a dangerous allure:

[Look, your foolish brother doesn't want to go through with the marriage at all.]

[Erlitu, why don't you try to fight for it? Perhaps the candidate for the marriage will be changed to you. Then you can not only leave this godforsaken place for the Imperial Star, but you can also get closer to Anmi.]

Erlitu remained unmoved upon hearing this. He propped his head up with one hand and sized up the Black Snake before him with a playful look. He suddenly discovered something very interesting. Although the other party possessed the immense power to control life and death, it seemed it didn't understand how to scheme against people's hearts:

"How foolish. I already chose this path in my previous life. The Soland Family only has Anmi as their last hope. How could they allow him to be paired with a congenitally flawed D-rank Guide? If I do that, the outcome will be no different from my past life."

He would still be despised by the Soland Family.

And Yin Lai would still be thrown over to him like a piece of trash.

If Erlitu wanted to get to know Yin Lai, or get close to Anmi, there would naturally be other, better ways in this life, but definitely not by relying on this humiliating and unequal marriage contract.

But then again, Fei Ang was an A-rank Guide after all. If the Soland Family, out of some consideration for old feelings, really let him marry Anmi as a makeshift solution, then things would be disastrous.

Anmi was a ruthless and vicious person. Fei Ang wouldn't even be a mouthful for him.

This residential area became exceptionally quiet after nightfall. Grandpa Meng Luo, having been a soldier, had a very regular schedule and was already in bed resting early. Outside the window was a mass of dark, oppressive clouds that obscured most of the moon. Occasionally, the shadows of a few birds would flit by, letting out calls even more grating and creepy than a crow's.

The door to Fei Ang's bedroom had been locked from the outside in the afternoon. Unless he could get the key from Grandpa Meng Luo, there was no way out.

He sat idly in his room all afternoon. After much thought, he decided he couldn't just sit and wait for his doom. Steeling himself, he found his travel backpack, randomly stuffed a few sets of clothes and shoes into it, and then tied his climbing rope in a dead knot on the balcony railing. He tugged on it to test its firmness, actually planning to jump straight down from the third floor.

This act was undoubtedly extremely dangerous. One must know that a Guide's strength often lay in their control over Spiritual Power; their physical constitution was not as robust as a Sentinel's. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to call them fragile and rare, otherwise they wouldn't occupy a full third of the content in the Imperial Protection Law.

However, Fei Ang couldn't be bothered with that at the moment. He carefully climbed over the balcony railing and bravely glanced down. The height of nearly ten meters was dizzying. The cold wind poured into his sleeves, and it was no exaggeration to say he felt a chill all over.

"Calm down, Fei Ang, calm down... You're going to be the world's greatest explorer. A small difficulty like this won't defeat you..."

Fei Ang gripped the rope tightly, shimmying down while trembling and desperately trying to encourage himself. However, just when he was being extremely careful, an accident still happened. A crisp 'crack' suddenly echoed in the silent night. The carabiner of the climbing rope, which was connected to the railing, suddenly broke due to a quality issue. The rope slid down rapidly, and the situation immediately spun out of control.

Fei Ang felt a sense of weightlessness around him, and his heart nearly leaped out of his throat in fright. He widened his eyes in panic, a scream already at the tip of his tongue. However, before he could let it out, an invisible Spiritual Power firmly supported his back and then slowly lowered him onto the garden lawn below.

"Thump—!"

The moment Fei Ang landed, his legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground. He looked up, still shaken, only to see a familiar figure standing on the balcony looking down at him. Who else could it be but his younger brother, Erlitu?!

Fei Ang's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Er—"

"Shh—"

Erlitu pressed his index finger to his lips, his eyes lowered.

"Do you want to wake Grandpa up?"

His other hand swayed gently in the darkness, making a soft, crisp sound. A string of silver keys was hanging from his beautiful, slender fingertips.