Chapter 3110: After Divorce, Forced into 41 Rounds of Rivalry with My Ex‑Husband

The next morning.

Yun Wu and Steve stayed in the inn, tasked with guarding Mai Lun and Yan Xu.

Before departing, Chenshu specifically instructed, 'If Mai Lun puts up strong resistance, you don't need to worry about his identity—you can kill him directly.'

Steve nodded while speaking, his attitude seeming cooperative, 'I'm a good person, I never kill anyone.' Yun Wu stood beside him silently, quietly putting a few vials of medicine into his backpack and zipping it up, then gave Chenshu a nod to reassure him.

Jin Chen and Chenshu walked side by side out of the inn's vicinity, heading toward the Iron Fortress.

The closer they got to the Iron Fortress, the more obvious the bloody smell in the air became, mixed with the distinctive damp metallic scent of the rain and mist.

The rain on Rusted Bone Star is not safe; due to large amounts of mineral slag dust suspended in the atmosphere, the rainwater contains trace acidic substances and heavy‑metal pollutants, which cause a mild stinging sensation on the skin, and prolonged exposure can even lead to skin ulceration.

Jin Chen held a black umbrella, his other hand held by Chenshu, his steps leisurely as if on vacation, so soon they attracted the attention of the outlaws and strange creatures wandering the outskirts of the Iron Fortress base.

Those outlaws wore tattered protective gear, carried assorted weapons, and bore the fierce, cunning look typical of those scraping a living on fringe worlds; they noticed the two uninvited guests from afar, and in such dangerous weather even locals wouldn't venture out, let alone stroll about so leisurely as if taking a walk.

The outlaws exchanged glances, driving the few strange beasts that roamed near the base toward Jin Chen and Chenshu, hoping to pick up some scraps.

The rain and mist slanted, fine threads forming diagonal lines in the wind, blurring the view.

Jin Chen slightly lifted the edge of his umbrella, revealing half his face, watching the strange creatures charging at them and the outlaws being herded this way, and softly exclaimed, 'So this is how you welcome guests?'

Chenshu took Jin Chen's hand and walked leisurely to a relatively clean outdoor bench by the road, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to lay on the bench surface rinsed clean by the rain, checked for any stains, then gestured for Jin Chen to sit.

'Wait for me.' His voice was warm and calm.

'Mm.' Jin Chen put away his umbrella, sat on the bench, and placed his hands folded on his knees.

In the gloomy, eerie rain‑mist, he watched with a smiling gaze as Chenshu alone strode toward the backs of the strange creatures and outlaws.

For a battle‑hardened Imperial Marshal, even the genetically altered star‑beasts of the frontline star systems could be slain, let alone these mutants twisted by aberrant energy.

Chenshu's figure darted through the rain‑mist like wind, only afterimages flashing through the monster horde. In moments, countless heads tumbled to the ground with a gurgling sound, washed by the rain into the roadside drainage ditch, dark blood mixing with the pooled water and slowly flowing down the slope.

The gang of outlaws stared dumbfounded.

They had originally planned to let the monsters wear down the two strangers' stamina, then swoop in to clean up the leftovers. But in less than ten minutes, the monsters they usually avoided were sliced apart by that cold‑faced man as easily as chopping vegetables.

They froze in place, weapons in hand, unsure whether to raise them, until Chenshu lifted the gun in his grasp and fired a single shot toward them.

The bullet grazed the ear of the leader, embedding itself in the wall behind him, sending stone fragments flying.

That bunch of people; '……'

Chenshu lowered his gun, turned, and walked back to Jin Chen's side.

Jin Chen watched him approach with curved eyes and smile, reached out to wipe away a droplet of blood spattered on Chenshu's cheek; Chenshu half‑bent, turned his head, and affectionately rubbed Jin Chen's fingers, his lips brushing the fingertip before straightening up.

Jin Chen rose lazily, leaned against Chenshu's side, put away the umbrella, which he used as a cane planted before him, and rested his hands folded on the handle.

He glanced at the outlaws, now caught between advance and retreat, with a light tone, 'Take us to your place for a sit.'

The outlaws exchanged glances, their expressions complex. 'Will the base chief have us chopped up……'

But after witnessing that cold‑faced man's bare‑handed slaughter of the monsters, they simply lacked the courage to voice refusal.

——

The unfortunate outlaws tremblingly escorted them into the base; along the way, everyone they met eyed the two strangers warily, some stepping forward to question, but upon seeing the leader's desperate glance, they silently withdrew.

In the corridor leading to the core area, a somewhat braver outlaw stammered nervously.

'Um… our base has two chiefs… which one would you two like to see?'

Jin Chen let out a sound, tilted his head slightly in doubt, 'When did it become two?'

He stood with hands behind his back, pondered seriously, then said, 'The one that looks unreliable.'

That person suddenly understood, replied with a hesitant 'yes,' and hurried off to report.

Chenshu walked beside Jin Chen, his gaze sweeping the surroundings without expression, while his mind dwelled on another matter.

Xiao Chen, in those three years, why had he come to this dangerous place, when had he met the people of the Iron Fortress, and what had he experienced here? These questions spun in his mind, but now was not the time to ask them aloud; he could only press them down for now, waiting for a suitable moment.

Not long after, they were led into a reception room inside the Iron Fortress base.

The young man who came to meet them appeared about twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight, wearing a flashy shirt with only the lower buttons fastened, exposing a broad chest, a necklace of unknown material around his neck, walking with a breeze; upon seeing Jin Chen his eyes lit up instantly, he rushed over in two‑step strides, shouting enthusiastically.

'Little Jin! Long time no see! I've been waiting for you forever……'

Chenshu's face grew even colder, a chill drifting outward.

Ma Qi came to a stop two steps from Jin Chen, looked Chenshu up and down, and chuckled, 'This ice‑making machine must be Little Jin's ex‑husband.'

Chenshu's gaze fell upon Ma Qi's face with a Youyou look, the corner of his mouth pressing down slightly, 'Chenshu, nice to meet you.'

Ma Qi sneakily led them into a more secluded small room, had them sit, himself taking the opposite seat, then suddenly his eyes reddened, teary and blurred as he gazed at Jin Chen.

Chenshu's heart gave a sudden alert.

His body leaned forward slightly, his arm unconsciously wrapping around Jin Chen's shoulder in a defensive posture. Yet oddly, his rival radar didn't ping, even though Ma Qi was being overly enthusiastic.

Jin Chen let Chenshu hold his shoulder, patted the back of his hand to signal calm, then calmly looked at Ma Qi, 'Little Ma, how did you become vice chief?'

Upon hearing that, Ma Qi's complaints poured out like a flood.

He asked Jin Chen whether he remembered his long‑comatose foster brother, the guy who could only survive in a nutrient tank, who inexplicably awoke a year ago, seized the chief's position from him, and has been ruining the Iron Fortress's reputation ever since.

The more Ma Qi spoke, the more heartbroken he became, sobbing with snot and tears, finally pulling out a handkerchief from somewhere to bite on, his eye sockets red.

Jin Chen made a stopping gesture, 'Don't cry yet, I have important questions for you—if you do well, I'll have my ex‑husband settle that evil foster brother for you.'

Chenshu: '。'

Once we return to the main star we must remarry immediately; the term 'ex‑husband' is really unpleasant.

Ma Qi wiped his tears, stole a glance at Chenshu, then leaned closer to Jin Chen, 'Little Jin, you said before that your ex‑husband abandoned you, which is why you wandered the planets…… just what status does your ex‑husband have?'

Jin Chen was frank, 'Imperial Marshal.'

Thud——

Ma Qi collapsed to the floor, weakly pulling himself up by the chair leg, pupils trembling, voice shaking, '……Your ex‑husband is a marshal!'

Chenshu gave a calm glance: 'Hmm.'

The bandit leader Ma Qi swallowed, then moved farther away.

Jin Chen brought the topic back on track, asking Ma Qi if he had ever seen someone named Chi Mu.

Upon hearing that name, Ma Qi jumped up with a grunt, nearly overturning the table, and exclaimed, "I've seen him! I just arrived at Iron Fortress yesterday, and today he became my evil foster brother's…………"

Jin Chen helpfully added, "Lover?"

"Vulgar!" Ma Qi shook his head, his expression grave, "He's become his benefactor! It's utterly inexplicable! Chi Mu doesn't know what he said to him, but now he practically venerates Chi Mu as a savior."

Jin Chen's expression also grew grave, "We must capture Chi Mu. If your brother insists on protecting him, he might even lose his life."

Ma Qi immediately understood, flung the door open and shouted something outside, then turned back to Jin Chen and said, "My brother is simply outrageous; I will definitely do what is right even if it means turning against kin."

Chenshu looked at the youth whose emotions swung like a roller coaster, fell silent for a few seconds, and decided to withhold comment.

Ma Qi summoned his personal guard, while Chenshu covertly contacted Blake's party lying in wait near the Iron Fortress base.

The two forces met at the base's perimeter, after a brief regrouping they marched in mighty array straight to the ninth floor of the Iron Fortress's central tower—the base's command hub.