This too was a form of submission.
Their eyes met.
The girl's tears still shimmered in her eyes, that complex gaze mixing worship, insecurity, and adoration - like a hook digging deep into the softest part of Qin Yu's heart.
"Silly girl."
Qin Yu's voice was low, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Who told you to compare yourself with those killing machines?"
"You're my woman."
"On this ship, even in this damned apocalypse."
"You have only one mission."
"To stay by my side, safe and sound."
"Killing and destruction are men's business."
Qin Yu's thumb gently stroked her trembling lips.
"As for being useful..."
"The you right now is the most useful thing to me."
These words struck Yao Qian like an electric current, instantly shattering her psychological defenses.
She looked at this man before her, powerful as a deity.
The man who abandoned chasing a boss underwater for her, who immediately turned back because she was injured, who blasted an S-Class Sea Beast to pieces to vent her anger.
He was a king.
And she was the lucky one cradled in his palms.
An unprecedented impulse wildly grew within Yao Qian's otaku heart.
She didn't want to be just a protected Gilded Canary.
She wanted to prove.
Prove she wasn't just his burden.
Prove she could bring him happiness too, even if just a little.
"Brother Qin Yu..."
Yao Qian's gaze changed.
It held the determination to burn herself even if she were a moth flying into flames.
She suddenly reached out both hands, tightly wrapping them around Qin Yu's neck.
Without any warning.
She sharply lifted her head, pressing her warm lips fiercely against Qin Yu's.
Clumsy.
Awkward.
Even bumping against Qin Yu's teeth.
But carrying a desperate passion.
Qin Yu froze for a moment.
He hadn't expected this usually obedient, even somewhat timid girl to take the initiative.
Before he could react.
Yao Qian made an even bolder move.
She released her hold on Qin Yu's neck, supporting herself on the bed.
Enduring the pain in her knees.
Enduring the discomfort in her body.
Her slender waist twisted with effort.
She flipped over completely, straddling Qin Yu's legs.
The oversized men's white shirt slid upward with her movement, gathering at the tops of her thighs.
A pair of long legs clad in White Silk Stockings glowed with an ivory-like luster under the dim yellow light.
Especially the band-aids on her knees.
In this ambiguous atmosphere, they actually exuded a blood-stirring beauty of delicate vulnerability.
"Hiss..."
The movement was too abrupt.
It aggravated her wounds.
Yao Qian gasped sharply in pain, her eyebrows tightly furrowed, her face growing paler.
But she didn't stop.
Nor did she retreat.
Looking down at Qin Yu from above, tears still hanging at the corners of her eyes, her gaze was stubborn enough to break one's heart.
"I'm not afraid of pain..."
She panted, her voice trembling yet exceptionally firm.
"Sister said... if I become your woman, I must have resolve."
"I don't have many skills."
"I can't help you kill monsters, can't help you sail the ship."
"But I can... make you happy..."
After saying these words, Yao Qian seemed to have exhausted all her strength, her entire face flushed as if about to drip blood.
As a seasoned homebody, she had read plenty of comics and watched many anime series.
Her theoretical knowledge was extensive.
But practical experience had been zero until today.
This was the most direct, most daring way she could think of to express her affection.
Qin Yu looked at the girl straddling him.
At her trembling form, her pained frown, yet still forcing herself to please him.
The fire in his heart.
Exploded.
With a roar.
To hell with being gentle.
To hell with taking it slow.
If he held back now, he wouldn't be a man!
"You asked for this."
Qin Yu's voice was hoarse, his eyes instantly turning predatory.
His large hands clamped around Yao Qian's slender waist.
The force was so great it seemed he wanted to crush her into his very bones.
"Ah!"
Yao Qian gasped.
But soon, that gasp was stifled in her throat.
Qin Yu gave her no further chance to speak.
Turning the tables.
A Storm of kisses instantly stole her breath away.
The white shirt became disheveled in their entanglement.
Revealing vast expanses of snow-white skin and those delicate, deep-set collarbones.
"Mmm..."
Yao Qian felt like a small boat tossed in a storm.
Her only anchor was the man beneath her.
Brother Qin Yu was hers.
Now, completely hers.
This sense of belonging made Yao Qian feel secure for the first time in this apocalyptic world.
The night was deep.
Waves beat rhythmically against the ship's hull.
But these sounds were soon drowned out by the unrestrained moans and panting from the room.
This time.
There was no life-or-death urgency like in the ocean depths.
Only the most primal release and demand.
Qin Yu was like a tireless beast, sending the girl in his arms to ecstasy again and again.
And Yao Qian.
Even though her body felt broken.
She gritted her teeth, clinging tightly to Qin Yu.
Meeting him again and again.
Blooming again and again.
The stark contrast - the usually timid girl who dared not speak loudly, now displaying astonishing allure on Qin Yu's body.
This was a woman's transformation.
For the man she loved.
She could change from that innocent maiden into the most enchanting seductress.
...
Who knows how much time passed.
The wind ceased.
The rain stopped.
The room was filled with the thick scent of musk.
Yao Qian had long since fallen asleep from exhaustion.
She clung to Qin Yu like an Octopus, limbs wrapped around him, tear stains still fresh on her face, yet a satisfied smile gracing her lips.
The poor white shirt was completely ruined, crumpled and discarded at the foot of the bed.
Qin Yu leaned against the headboard.
Looking down at the sleeping girl in his arms.
He gently brushed aside the damp hair stuck to her cheek.
His gaze soft.
This girl.
Looked fragile.
But had an inner toughness.
That earlier bout of intensity would have been too much for even the strongest constitution, yet she hadn't made a sound, cooperating throughout.
"What a silly girl."
Qin Yu blew out a smoke ring, a doting curve lifting the corner of his mouth.
He pulled the blanket over them both.
Drawing the warm, soft body closer into his embrace.
Sleep.
Tomorrow, there were more important matters to attend to.
...
Early morning.
The first rays of sunlight stubbornly slipped through the gaps in the floor-to-ceiling window, spilling across the disheveled bed.
The mist over the sea had yet to dissipate.
The air carried a distinct salty dampness and chill.
Qin Yu opened his eyes precisely on time.
This was a biological clock honed through years of training—even after working late into the night, he would still wake up refreshed the next day.
His arms felt heavy.
Looking down, he saw Yao Qian curled up in the crook of his arm, sleeping soundly.
Like a lazy kitten.
Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath her eyelids, trembling slightly with each breath.
Her fair neck and shoulders were dotted with faint red marks.
All evidence of last night's intense "battle."
Qin Yu felt invigorated.
Not only had he released pent-up energy, but he'd also enjoyed the restful sleep brought by the S-Class Sea-Stabilizing Pearl.
It was the most peaceful sleep he'd had since the apocalypse began.
No rocking.
No turbulence.
As if he were in a five-star hotel on land.
"System," Qin Yu called out silently.
A new day had begun.
As the sole awakened system user, the daily lottery draw was the moment he looked forward to most every morning.
Especially after yesterday's fierce battle.
Luck often went hand-in-hand with slaughter.
The more one killed, the greater their fortune.
[Ding! Good morning, Host.]
[The Daily Lottery System has refreshed.]
[Detection: Host eliminated an S-Class creature, "Deep Sea Jiaolong," yesterday. Fortune value significantly increased!]
[Initiate today's lottery draw now?]
Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
Just as he thought.
Eliminating a boss came with bonuses.
"Draw!" Qin Yu responded without hesitation.
He prayed silently.
Give me something substantial.
It has to be something substantial.
Although the "President" currently possessed fierce firepower, strong defenses, and a Sea-Stabilizing Pearl to calm the waves, Qin Yu was acutely aware of one critical weakness:
Power.
The current power system still relied on an upgraded set of A-Class diesel generators and several high-power thrusters.
They were adequate for ordinary travel.
But in high-intensity combat like yesterday's—firing cannons, activating shields, and maneuvering at full speed—the fuel consumption was unsustainable in a prolonged battle.
Moreover, based on his memories of his past life or the typical tropes of an apocalyptic storyline, once the beginner phase ended and the storms passed, an extreme cold snap would follow.
The sea would freeze over.
By then, ordinary propeller thrusters would be useless against the ice.
He needed stronger propulsion.
A true "heart" for the ship.
[Spinning the lottery wheel…]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Extraordinary luck!]
[Acquired unique special item: S-Class Universal Core Upgrade Module!]
Qin Yu's breath hitched.
S-Class!
And a universal upgrade module!
This was exactly what he needed!
He quickly checked the item description.
[Name: S-Class Universal Core Upgrade Module]
[Type: Consumable/Modification]
[Function: Can forcibly evolve any single A-Class ship facility (limited to power, defense, or living facilities) into an S-Class core facility. Evolution direction automatically adapts to the optimal solution based on the original facility's characteristics.]
[Note: This is the crystallization of technology and magic, the key that transforms decay into wonder. With it, your ship will possess a heart that never runs dry.]
"Beautiful!"
Qin Yu couldn't help but clench his fist.
Just when he was thinking about it.
A heart that never runs dry?
The note couldn't have been more obvious.
"Brother Qin Yu..."
The person in his arms seemed to have been disturbed by his movements.
Yao Qian mumbled groggily.
Before her eyes even opened, her hands began wandering aimlessly over Qin Yu's body.
"More..."
Qin Yu's lips twitched.
Was this girl dreaming?
He reached out and gave her pert bottom a light slap.
Smack!
The sound was crisp and clear.
"Wake up, the sun's already up."
Yao Qian finally forced her eyes open.
She stared blankly at Qin Yu for several seconds before realizing what she had just said.
Instantly.
She shrank completely under the covers, only her eyes visible, watching Qin Yu warily.
"I... I didn't say..."
"I didn't say anything..."
Qin Yu was in high spirits and didn't expose her.
He kissed her forehead.
"Sleep a little longer."
"I've got some important matters to attend to."
After speaking, Qin Yu directly threw off the covers and got out of bed.
His lean muscles were clearly defined in the morning light, brimming with explosive power.
Hidden under the covers, Yao Qian secretly watched Qin Yu's back as he dressed, her heart pounding wildly.
Brother Qin Yu's physique... is really good.
...
After putting on his combat suit, Qin Yu didn't head straight to the cockpit.
Instead, he went directly to the lower-level engine room.
This was the heart of the entire ship.
At this moment.
The massive Adaptive Hybrid Propulsion System (B-Class) was roaring.
The air was thick with the pungent smell of diesel and engine oil.
Several large fuel tanks occupied most of the space.
Though it looked impressive, in Qin Yu's eyes, this thing was far too outdated.
Loud, heavily polluting, and constantly worrying about running out of fuel.
Most importantly.
Its output power had an upper limit.
"You're the one."
Qin Yu stood before the enormous power system.
With a flip of his palm.
A cube radiating brilliant golden light appeared in his hand.
This was the S-Class Universal Core Upgrade Module.
It seemed to possess life, pulsing faintly in Qin Yu's hand.
"System, use the S-Class Universal Core Upgrade Module."
"Target: Current power unit."
"Evolution direction: Unlimited energy, ice-breaking navigation."
Qin Yu's voice echoed through the empty engine room.
[Command confirmed.]
[Locking target: B-Class Adaptive Hybrid Propulsion System.]
[Beginning evolution...]
The golden cube in his hand instantly transformed into countless streams of golden light, drilling into the bulky generator set.
Crack, crack, crack—
A grating sound of metal restructuring filled the air.
The diesel engine, originally covered in industrial grime, began to melt and reshape like liquid.
The black steel shell peeled away, revealing a silver-white skeleton of unknown metal beneath.
The pungent diesel smell vanished.
Replaced by the fresh scent of ozone.
The originally massive volume began to shrink, becoming more compact and precise.
The thick exhaust pipes disappeared entirely.
In their place, energy transmission pipes emitting a faint blue glow extended like blood vessels to every corner of the ship's hull.
The entire process lasted less than five minutes.
When the golden light faded, what appeared before Qin Yu was no longer that crude, bulky diesel engine, but a sci-fi-inspired silver ring device hovering in mid-air.
At the center of the ring, a fist-sized blue crystal rotated slowly.
There was no roaring noise—only a faint hum, the sound of energy flowing.
[Ding! Evolution successful!]
[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining an S-Class Power Core: Deep Sea Cold Fusion Reactor (Icebreaker Type).]
Qin Yu eagerly opened the attribute panel.
[Name: Deep Sea Cold Fusion Reactor]
[Grade: S-Class]
[Energy Type: Infinite Energy (Self-Cycling Cold Fusion)]
[Output Power: 1 million kW (normal) / 5 million kW (overload)]
[Trait 1: Silent Operation. Noise reduced by 99%.]
[Trait 2: Thermal Conversion. Converts residual reactor heat for ship-wide heating, impervious to extreme cold.]
[Trait 3: Icebreaker Mode. Concentrates energy to the bow ram and under-hull cutter, activating the "High-Frequency Thermal Oscillation Blade," capable of slicing through 10-meter-thick ice with ease.]
[Trait 4: Propulsion Enhancement. Combined with the Thruster, maximum speed increased to 80 knots.]
"Holy shit..."
Even Qin Yu couldn't help but swear under his breath.
This wasn't just an upgrade—it was a leap across eras!
Cold fusion!
Infinite energy!
His ship was now a mobile nuclear power plant.
Moreover, that "Icebreaker Mode" seemed tailor-made for the impending disaster.
High-frequency thermal oscillation?
Slicing through 10-meter-thick ice?
This was no ordinary icebreaker—it was like a red-hot knife cutting through butter.
While other ships would be frozen in place, waiting to die, or slowly chipping away at the ice like snails, his "President" could race across the frozen sea!
"Amazing!"
Qin Yu reached out and touched the cold silver casing.
A surge of immense power transmitted through his fingertips, as if he could hear the ship cheering.
With this heart installed, the vessel finally had the capability to challenge nature itself.
"Beep, beep."
Just then, the communicator on his wrist chimed.
It was Li Ruobing's voice.
"Boss! Where are you?"
"Get to the bridge, quick!"
"Radar shows... something's approaching!"
"It's not sea beasts!"
"It's a fleet!"
Li Ruobing's voice was urgent.
Qin Yu's eyes sharpened.
A fleet?
Someone had already formed a fleet at this stage? And they managed to locate them out here on the open sea?
It seemed the commotion from yesterday's battle had drawn attention—or perhaps the phenomenon from the S-Class Sea-Stabilizing Pearl's emergence had been spotted.
Either way, these visitors meant trouble.
A cruel, cold smile tugged at Qin Yu's lips.
Perfect.
The newly installed heart was just itching for a test run, and here came live targets delivered to their doorstep.
"Stay calm," Qin Yu said coolly into the communicator.
"I'm on my way."
"Tell the crew to get ready."
"Our S-Class power's debut battle... will draw blood."
With that, Qin Yu turned and strode purposefully out of the engine room.
The reactor behind him blazed with intense blue light.
Like an awakened behemoth, it yearned for slaughter and roaring.
In this post-apocalyptic world.
Only the size of one's fist represented true power.
And now.
His fist had hardened to a degree these ordinary mortals couldn't possibly imagine.
"Yao Qian, get dressed and out of bed!"
"The show is about to begin."
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