Chapter 408: Chapter 363: Still Want to Test Him?

She understood that he was probably upset because she had seen him in a vulnerable state.

’This side of the Little Fairy Bird is less cold and distant, and actually rather cute,’ she thought.

"Fine, you saw it," Philinos said. "It’s not as if a single glance will..."

Gu Ning asked, "Will what?"

"Nothing." A warning from Andrew flashed through Philinos’s mind, and he decided it was best to say less.

"Do you want to see?" Seeing Gu Ning staring at him with her chin in her hands, he felt he should respond in some way. Besides, her aura was telling him that she needed some kind of help right now. ’If... if she needs it...’

"See what?" Gu Ning paused. Recalling what she had just said, she nodded. "Let’s see."

Philinos finished the last of his food, pulled a tissue from the dispenser at his side to wipe his mouth clean, then stood up and sat down next to Gu Ning. Slowly, he pulled down the zipper on his Combat Suit jacket.

Gu Ning stared at his hand.

The Little Fairy Bird’s hands were as beautiful as his face—long and fair, with well-defined knuckles. They looked both graceful and strong, the veins on the back of his hands prominent. She could imagine them popping as he swung his blade.

Philinos’s movements were slow as he unzipped his jacket. Gu Ning watched his hand; he watched Gu Ning.

His face was expressionless, but inside, his heart was churning like a stormy sea.

’Does Ning want to see my wounds, or... test me?’

’If it’s the wounds, I don’t see the need. I don’t like exposing my injuries to others.’

In the Military Department, most soldiers treated their wounds as medals and honors. However, he had been taught by Teacher Windsor from a young age to be proper and courteous, and to know how to take care of himself.

Both Teacher Windsor and Ah Mo had taught him that wounds were not something to be flaunted. A wound was just a wound. It caused physical pain to oneself and psychological pain to those who cared. Beyond the pain and ugliness, a wound had no other meaning.

Therefore, whether on missions, during training, or when fighting Mutant Species, he always did his best not to get injured.

However, he was not as calm and composed as Teacher Windsor, who balanced offense and defense perfectly. He much preferred ferocious attacks over defense.

After Windsor understood his nature, she didn’t suppress it or make him practice her style of fighting. Instead, she went along with his temperament and taught him even fiercer combat techniques.

’To avoid injury, your attacks must be faster and fiercer, leaving the opponent no opportunity to strike.’

Relying on his nature and talent, he entered the First Military District and became the strongest combat vanguard under Andrew.

But no matter how strong he was, there were always times he got hurt. He just never let the wounds show.

In the eyes of others, it was as if he never got injured at all.

The zipper reached the end. Philinos took off his jacket, revealing a lean, muscular upper body covered in scars, both old and new.

Gu Ning had seen him covered in blood before—she had been the first to treat his wounds, after all—but she was still taken aback to see so many injuries on his chest.

For the past few days while he was in hibernation, his body had been wrapped in bandages, so nothing was visible. That day in the containment unit, the light had been dim, and she had been sick herself amidst a crisis, so she hadn’t paid much attention. But now, with the Little Fairy Bird bare-chested, his fair skin seemed to glow under the room’s bright lights, making the scars appear even more gruesome.

She raised her hand, wanting to touch the pink scar over his heart, but when she glimpsed the silver bracelet on her wrist, she flinched and pulled her hand back.

That was the thing that had almost killed the Little Fairy Bird. Even though it was under control now, she couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear and apprehension.

Philinos had noticed the silver bracelet on her wrist long ago. He had wanted to ask her about it, but once he knew Marshal Mei had arrived, he understood that the device had been dealt with.

He took her by the wrist, his fingers brushing over the bracelet. His actions were meant to soothe Gu Ning, to tell her that it couldn’t hurt him anymore.

Gu Ning’s expression softened. Looking at the crisscrossing scars on his body, she asked, "These scars... will they fade?"

"They will."

Philinos answered immediately, his tone holding a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"They will. It just takes some time." He always kept a special ointment for scar removal on hand.

"That’s good." Gu Ning nodded and switched hands to touch a fainter scar on his abdomen.

Feeling the muscles beneath her fingertips tense up, Gu Ning curled her fingers slightly. She looked up at the Little Fairy Bird and said, "In the future, don’t resort to harming yourself."

"Mm," Philinos replied softly.

’I would never harm myself, nor have I ever thought of using self-injury to achieve a goal. But that day, seeing Ning so pale and weak, I didn’t think twice. All I wanted was to get her the medicine.’

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