Tang Wen furrowed his brow, his face growing colder until it actually took on the pallor of a corpse—though, with his naturally rosy complexion, he looked unexpectedly more beautiful when angry! Zi Ye shamelessly thought, perhaps Stas deliberately called him 'Coffin Face' just to see his angry expression!

Stas's identity was now clear to her. When the mentor assignments hadn't even been announced during military training, Stas had claimed she belonged to Tang Wen's faction, which had terrified her then.

Now, it was obvious he and Tang Wen were well acquainted. Judging by his familiar manner—stepping inside after taking a smoke break outside—he must be a regular visitor, ordered around by Tang Wen.

Tang Wen was almost pathologically strict about no smoking; not a single staff member in the research institute indulged, regardless of how important the visitor was. Smoking was absolutely forbidden in his own home!

About five minutes later, Bulan led Stas into the tea room. Stas still had a cigarette dangling from his lips, though unlit.

Seeing Zi Ye, he raised an eyebrow in surprise, pulled out his cigarette case, and asked with breezy nonchalance, "Want one?" Zi Ye retorted, annoyed, "I don't smoke." If Tang Wen hadn't been present, Zi Ye would have surely slammed her fist into his nose bridge without offering an apology. She vividly remembered how he had treated her during military training.

Besides, did she really look like a smoker? Offering her a cigarette!!

Tang Wen didn't offer Stas any warmth either, addressing Zi Ye directly: "Do whatever you want; don't hold back on my account." Zi Ye turned her head toward Tang Wen. "Really?" Tang Wen nodded.

"Absolutely!" Stas watched the exchange with a lazy smile, unconcerned. "Come on, little lady.

Let me see what you've got." The words had barely left his mouth before Zi Ye's fist landed squarely on his cheek. He hissed in pain, and the cigarette flew from his mouth.

He touched the spot where he'd been hit. "Little lady, you're brutal." Zi Ye kept a stern face.

"You were much rougher when you hit me before!" With that, she delivered another heavy blow. Stas didn't flinch or dodge, letting her strike him, even taunting, "That punch was off target.

Remember, when you fight others, you must nail the position, or you'll be the one dead... This punch was precise, but it lacks follow-through.

You need force that penetrates to the bone. Yes, try again." Zi Ye grew more frustrated the more she hit him, but kicking him twice felt insufficient.

Stas leisurely patted the area he'd been struck, murmuring in admiration, "For a little lady to achieve this level..." Before he could finish, Tang Wen suddenly cut in, "Si Da Xiong. Apologize to your Martial Aunt." Stas's expression instantly darkened.

"Don't call me Si Da Xiong!" After roaring, he suddenly registered the last part of the sentence and immediately shifted his demeanor. "What did you just call her?" Tang Wen enunciated slowly, "Marital!

Aunt!" Stas, holding his cigarette case, instinctively moved to light one. Hearing the title, his hand trembled, and the case clattered to the floor.

"Are you kidding me with interstellar jokes?!" Tang Wen remained silent, picking up the electronic bookmark and handing it over. Stas didn't bother retrieving his cigarette case; he took the bookmark, looked at it, and burst out laughing.

"Coffin Face, look at you. You used to be such a delicate little thing; how did you end up like this?" Tang Wen’s face was a landscape of black lines.

That wasn't the point! He detested anyone bringing up his childhood the most, and the stifled anger made him want to tear Stas’s mouth off.

Zi Ye didn't know what the electronic bookmark symbolized, but she wholeheartedly agreed with Stas. The child on the bookmark looked nothing like the Tang Wen before her!

How could such an adorable child have turned into Coffin Face? It must be Stas's fault for being such a jerk!

Zi Ye resolved to land another solid beating on Stas when she had the chance in the future. It was everyone's duty to strike against scoundrels.

In that moment, Zi Ye and Tang Wen stood on the same side. Stas glanced at the electronic bookmark and instantly confirmed Zi Ye's identity.

Speaking of which, this electronic bookmark held historical significance. It was recorded personally by Tang Wen on his birthday.

Tang Shan had loved it and carried it as a bookmark; he never parted with it even after leaving due to certain events. Zi Ye couldn't possibly be Tang Shan's daughter, but even if she were, she would undoubtedly be his Martial Aunt.

Seeing both of them align against him, Stas hastily clung to Zi Ye's leg, forcing a smile at her. "Little Martial Aunt, please forgive any offense from last time.

I sincerely apologize." He stood awkwardly, sat sloppily, and his words held zero sincerity. Zi Ye deliberately teased him, maintaining a stern expression.

"You think one sentence will cover it?" Stas immediately thought of serving tea, but the tea was already cold. Bulan stood nearby; being perceptive, he quickly set about brewing a fresh pot.

Stas nodded in satisfaction, clapped Bulan on the shoulder, picked up the teapot, poured a cup, and presented it respectfully to Zi Ye. His face fell as he said, "Little Martial Aunt, you can't disown me." Zi Ye’s facade instantly cracked.

"I am not your Martial Aunt." Stas didn't speak, just held the tea out further. "I know you're angry about my disrespect last time.

I truly didn't mean it." He’d intended to provoke Tang Wen by teasing Zi Ye, but hadn't expected to ensnare himself. Stas felt a little vexed.

But Zi Ye was, by any standard, his Martial Aunt; he couldn't behave recklessly. Zi Ye still couldn't grasp how she had become their Martial Aunt and couldn't bring herself to drink the tea.

Tang Wen, seeing one presenting and the other refusing, made no move to mediate, sitting back calmly sipping his own tea and watching the spectacle. Stas finally sighed in exasperation.

"Little Martial Aunt, just accept it." Zi Ye felt both annoyed and amused. Just as she was about to tell him to stop fooling around, Tang Wen spoke up.

"He is my martial brother; you are indeed his Martial Aunt. You can drink this tea." Zi Ye hesitated to drink for two reasons: the lingering trauma from his assault during military training, and the genuine belief that she couldn't possibly be his Martial Aunt.

Seeing the tea was on the verge of cooling, she considered it, took the cup, and drank it down in one gulp. "What exactly is going on?

Why am I your Martial Aunt?" Stas looked at Tang Wen with an expression of utter surprise. "She doesn't know Tang Shan is your grandfather?" In that single sentence, Zi Ye understood immediately.

Tang Wen was Tang Shan's grandson, two generations below him, while she was Tang Shan's disciple, one generation below him. What a ridiculous lineage structure!

Stas settled down next to Zi Ye, smiling broadly. "You must not know about Coffin Face's childhood.

Let me tell you. Back in the day, Coffin Face was hilarious, so soft to squeeze.

Every time, his grandfather would smack me, saying I was wasting my talent..." It was, in essence, Stas's tale of hardship. In their childhood, studying under Tang Shan alongside Tang Wen, Tang Wen favored design while Stas preferred mecha combat.

They often clashed, leading to frequent fights. Stas was slightly bulkier than Tang Wen and usually had the upper hand, until Tang Wen’s highly intelligent household robots intervened.

Every time Stas was about to win, a robot would seize him, lift him up, and slam him back down. After several tumbles, he had developed an incredibly tough hide.

Zi Ye listened to Stas recounting their formative years while sipping her tea. Stas spoke as informally as he was, describing Tang Wen's past in a way that was enough to make Tang Wen steam with rage.

Tang Wen said coldly, his anger simmering, "Did you come here just to reminisce?" Stas scratched his nose awkwardly. "Didn't I miss you?" Tang Wen fixed him with a stern expression.

"Get lost!" Stas immediately wrapped his arm around Zi Ye's shoulder. "Little Martial Aunt is here; I’m not leaving." He shot Zi Ye a pitiful look.

"Little Martial Aunt, Tang Wen is bullying me!" Zi Ye felt a chill run down her spine. His gaze was sharp, like a wolf's.

Imagine the effect of a wolf pretending to be coy and cute—it was far more terrifying than the Big Bad Wolf in fairy tales! Zi Ye decisively shrugged off his arm and moved to sit elsewhere.

Stas followed, sitting close to her, trying to appease her. "Little Martial Aunt, I came suddenly and didn't bring many gifts.

I'll give you this little thing as a welcome present." As he spoke, he took an object from his pocket. It was a piece of white, crystal-clear jade, carved with a semi-circular symbol in the upper left corner, pierced with a hole in the center top, and attached to a silver chain.

Zi Ye took a closer look and froze in horror. This was an Integrated Council pass—the only credential that granted unimpeded passage across the entire galaxy!

She finally understood why the instructors during military training had been so respectful of Stas: he was simply not someone one could afford to offend! Although the Interstellar Federation was the largest power among the star systems, it was still just one faction, and many legions did not heed its authority.

The Integrated Council was different. The Council stood above all other powers, responsible for coordinating and ensuring unified cooperation between the various factions.

Possessing this pass meant complete freedom of movement in any legion from now on! If Red Hair had this pass, she wouldn't have to fear any fight in the future!

However, if Red Hair used this pass for malicious deeds, her background would be exposed, and the many people on Silver Talisman Star would be compromised too! The Integrated Council would deploy forces to wipe them out, and Silver Talisman Star would be finished...

The more Zi Ye thought about it, the more untenable it seemed. This item, despite its immense power, was truly not something she could accept.

Stas assumed Zi Ye would accept it joyfully, casting a triumphant look at Tang Wen, conveying a "What are you going to do about it?" expression. Zi Ye calmly pushed the item back.

"I cannot accept this." Stas’s triumphant expression instantly shifted to disbelief. "Why?

Isn't this thing valuable?" Zi Ye replied coolly, "I'm just a student at Ling Si, sticking to my routine between the apartment and the mess hall. I have no use for this." Tang Wen covertly gave her a thumbs-up.

Seeing his placid, almost simple expression, Zi Ye couldn't help but smile. After all, she and Tang Wen were currently on the same side.

Being entangled with Stas was guaranteed trouble. Stas looked glum for a moment before suggesting, "How about I give you an aircraft carrier instead?" An aircraft carrier?!

Zi Ye’s eyes instantly lit up with greedy avarice. If she owned an aircraft carrier, Wolf's Den would immediately ascend to the ranks of first-tier legions!

Stas, being this generous is just wrong! Tang Wen’s expression remained blank.

"Si Da Xiong, I implore you not to offer my possessions as gifts."