Ruan Mei led Derick's Second Clone to the deepest part of the Herta Space Station. That was where she created the Skaracabaz.
However, after the last Skaracabaz was created and destroyed, Ruan Mei left this place. Now, it would take some time to create a new one.
Ruan Mei glanced at Derick's Second Clone and said softly, "Go wait over there. I'll let you devour the Skaracabaz after it's finished."
After speaking, without waiting for the Second Clone's consent, Ruan Mei had one of her creations lift the Second Clone and move it to the edge of the laboratory.
This was just what Derick wanted. Although he was capable of multitasking, having one less clone to manage would make things easier.
After all, his main body still had to go shopping with Castorice, Robin, Acheron, Stelle, and Huohuo, and his other clones needed to get moving.
"Fourth Clone, it's time to find Boothill."
Derick thought to himself.
...
On an unnamed planet, the burial ground of the Flame Reaver.
Boothill was still here, searching for any trace of Derick's Fourth Clone. He had been searching for a long time, possibly two months, but still hadn't found any sign of it.
Anyone else in this situation would have likely given up and left in disappointment long ago.
But as a Galaxy Ranger, Boothill wasn't like that. Derick's Fourth Clone was his comrade-in-arms; they had fought the Flame-Chasers together. For him to simply leave now that it was missing would be a betrayal of the code he lived by.
"Nothing here either. I'll head back to the city for the night. Dagnabbit, I've scoured this planet twice over, how have I still not found it?"
Boothill muttered to himself.
Just then, he felt the vibrations of approaching footsteps.
Boothill looked in the direction of the vibrations and saw Derick's Fourth Clone walking toward him.
Its body was much smaller than when Boothill had last seen it, and it had only a sliver of energy left, looking as if it could collapse at any moment.
Boothill had no idea that all its energy had been absorbed by Derick's main body; he just assumed it was the result of the battle with the Flame-Chasers.
He patted the Fourth Clone, his voice filled with sympathy. "Ah, buddy, you've been through a lot. I'll get you out of here, and find a way to help you recover... Just don't go eating people, okay, buddy? I'll find you some energy-rich behemoths to devour."
He had been about to promise to do everything he could to help it recover, but then he remembered the dark monster's 'habits' and quickly added the warning.
Derick himself wasn't a cannibal, so upon hearing Boothill's words, he certainly wasn't going to object.
Seeing that Derick's Fourth Clone didn't object, Boothill broke into a happy smile. He took hold of Derick's Fourth Clone, and they headed for his starship.
"Let's go. We've been here too long, it's time to leave," Boothill said to Derick's Fourth Clone as they walked. He then remembered something, stopped, and asked: "By the way, buddy, do you need to rest?"
Derick's Fourth Clone couldn't speak; it just continued walking in the direction Boothill was heading.
Boothill understood his 'buddy's' meaning.
"So you're well-rested and don't need a break? Alright then, let's get going." Boothill hurried to catch up with Derick's Fourth Clone, and the man and the clone continued toward the starship together.
Arriving at the starship, Boothill opened the hatch, and they set off into the cosmos.
"Where to next?"
Boothill wondered to himself as he piloted the ship.
It didn't take him long to decide. If he couldn't find a destination, he'd just go look for trouble with the Interastral Peace Corporation!
Boothill and Derick's Fourth Clone began their journey across the universe, searching for the Interastral Peace Corporation.
...
Zhuming Xianzhou.
Yunli returned to the forge, carrying several Demon Swords.
Yawning, Yunli tossed the Demon Swords into a specially-built furnace. She had personally prepared the furnace's structure and the flames within, specifically for the purpose of melting Demon Swords.
As the Demon Swords slowly melted in the furnace, Yunli felt a wave of fatigue and yawned several more times.
"What's wrong with me lately? Why do I get tired so easily?"
Yunli wondered.
She wasn't the only one who had noticed. General Huaiyan, who happened to be on an inspection tour, saw her condition.
He asked Yunli with concern, "Have you been feeling unwell recently?"
"Grandpa, I just get tired easily these days. It's probably nothing serious," Yunli said, trying to reassure Huaiyan.
"No, this is serious." Hearing Yunli's words, Huaiyan did not relax. Instead, his expression grew even more grave.
"A Xianzhou native's body doesn't change so easily. Even injuries should heal quickly. Something that affects your spirit like this is not right at all."
Even though Yunli was not his biological granddaughter, Huaiyan's concern for her was no less for it.
"Here, you rest for a bit. I'm going to get that physician, Lingsha."
Normally, Huaiyan would just send someone to summon Lingsha. But since this concerned his granddaughter, he had to go and invite her personally.
"Grandpa, it's fine..." Yunli had barely gotten the words out before Huaiyan was already on his way to find Lingsha.
Yunli stomped her foot in frustration but ultimately obeyed the general's command, heading to the rest area by the forge.
Before long, Huaiyan returned with a red-haired Vidyadhara girl. Not only was her hair red, but her hands and feet were as well.
Yunli recognized her. It was Lingsha.
Entering the rest area, Huaiyan said to Lingsha, "Lingsha, I'll have to trouble you."
"Yes, please don't worry, Elder Yan. I will be sure to thoroughly examine Miss Yunli's condition," Lingsha quickly assured him.
Although she hadn't met Huaiyan many times, Lingsha was very grateful to him for taking in her and her master.
Walking over, Lingsha said softly to Yunli, "Come, Yunli, give me your hand. Let me take a look."
"Mhm." Yunli nodded and gave her hand to Lingsha.
Lingsha gently placed her fingers on Yunli's wrist to check her pulse. Within seconds, her expression changed dramatically.
She looked at Yunli, her expression hesitant, as if she didn't know how to speak.
Seeing Lingsha's reaction, Yunli and Huaiyan immediately grew tense.
"Miss Lingsha, do I have some serious illness? Is it difficult to treat?" Yunli asked Lingsha.
How could this be? I still have to collect the Demon Swords, and I still have to find that guy Derick!
"Well, it's hard to say..." Lingsha's tone was very hesitant.
Huaiyan, standing to the side, said earnestly, "Please, Miss Lingsha, just tell us directly. That way, we can be mentally prepared."
Huaiyan had already made up his mind. If Lingsha couldn't treat it, he had other options.
The Xianzhou Alliance was about to start collaborating with Ruan Mei. With Ruan Mei's help, saving his granddaughter's life would not be a problem.
"Um, could General Huaiyan perhaps step outside for a moment?" Lingsha continued to stammer.
"This..." Yunli glanced at Huaiyan, then gritted her teeth and said, "It's fine, Miss Lingsha. Please just say it."
Even if it was a terminal illness, it was better for her grandfather to know. Letting him worry endlessly, that would be worse.
Hearing Yunli say this, Lingsha glanced at her again.
You're the one who said it. Don't blame me for what happens next.
Looking at the expressions of the grandfather and granddaughter, Lingsha finally spoke. "Miss Yunli does not have a terminal illness. She... is just pregnant."
Hearing the first half of Lingsha's sentence, General Huaiyan and Yunli both breathed a sigh of relief. It's not a terminal illness, that's good.
It's just pregnancy...
Wait!
Pregnancy!!!!!
The realization hit Yunli and Huaiyan with stunning clarity.
After speaking, Lingsha glanced at Yunli.
You're the one who told me to say it.
Lingsha looked at Yunli's age and build. She knew that even if Yunli, who was just of legal age, had a boyfriend, she would never tell General Huaiyan.
And now with this pregnancy, placating General Huaiyan's anger would likely be difficult.
Glancing at Huaiyan, Lingsha could practically see flames erupting from him.
Lingsha knew well that while General Huaiyan was usually cheerful, when he truly got angry, the smell of gunpowder was overwhelming.
"Who is it?"
the furious General Huaiyan demanded of Yunli.
____
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