*[Promising Future Chat Group]*
Asta: "Regarding the data collector issue, I might need a bit more time before I can give you an answer. I... need some time to calm down."
Wangshu: "Understood. You are the Station Lead of the Space Station; it's normal to be busy."
Asta: "..."
She wanted to say something but stopped, finally deciding to send only a string of ellipses.
Sigh.
"Station Lead! Are there any new missions for me, Star, to complete?"
A voice full of vitality rang out by her ear. At some point, Star had leaned over again, her eyes sparkling, her face written all over with the eagerness of 'please order Star around as much as you like.'
Asta felt her throat getting a bit sticky. However, Star was more or less still capable of understanding human speech—at least she didn't call her 'Foster Father'...
Speaking of which, why did she have to feel a sense of relief over such a basic thing?!
"You... go help me ask Madam Ruan Mei."
Asta tried her best to make her voice sound steady and business-like. "Ask if there is a convenient method to clear the biological data already recorded in a specific model of data collector? Some... irrelevant personnel's sample information was accidentally mixed in there."
"Mission guaranteed!"
Star immediately straightened her back, like a soldier receiving a military order. With fighting spirit burning in her eyes, she ran out of the Master Control Zone in a flash, disappearing around the corridor corner.
The cabin returned to silence, leaving only the low hum of instruments. Asta stood alone in place, slowly raising her hand to support her forehead, feeling that the brain cells she consumed today were more than what was needed to process a month's worth of Space Station reports.
***
*Star Calendar Year 6299, Cangcheng, Jingliu's Home*
Wangshu stepped out of the bathroom, carrying a refreshing dampness. He shook his head, narcissistically admiring himself in the mirror for two seconds—the young man in the reflection had relaxed brows and eyes—before quickly composing himself and walking out.
Under the warm yellow light, Little Jingliu hadn't slept yet. She was lying prone on the table, pondering today's schoolwork.
The Academy naturally assigned homework, but this kind of thing was usually finished during breaks between classes, so the burden wasn't heavy.
But she had skipped school today.
"Haven't finished writing yet?" Wangshu asked softly, leaning in from the side.
"Almost there."
Jingliu replied casually. Her gaze lingered on Little Wangshu's sharp shoulder line for a few seconds before retracting it. Seen it too much, no feelings, she pursed her lips.
Wangshu sighed. "I remember you saying that before I went to take a shower."
He didn't continue to disturb her, turning to walk to a relatively spacious corner of the living room. He picked up his sword again. The blade flowed with an introverted cold light under the lamp. He didn't wave it wildly but simply weighed it gently, his wrist turning slightly to perform a few basic starting stances.
This should count as last-minute cramming.
After all, when he went to sleep later, he would still have to find a way to deal with the Propagation remnants and the phantom of the Calamity-Breeding Swarm King.
Although, he didn't quite understand why Tayzzyronth would actually allow the Swarm Kings to devour His own body.
His thoughts drifted a bit far, until Wangshu felt a quiet but incredibly strong gaze. He looked sideways.
"If you aren't studying, can you go back to your room or go to the courtyard?"
Jingliu's expression was sincere, her voice a bit vexed. Although the current Little Wangshu looked very handsome, the teacher had already made a home visit. She couldn't just brush off her homework anymore; that would be more or less disrespectful to the teacher.
Wangshu froze for a moment before realization dawned on him. Understood, completely understood. When doing homework, it is indeed very annoying to have someone constantly making noise nearby. Even if that person is just sitting quietly to the side watching, it can invisibly increase the pressure.
Not to mention, Little Jingliu might have encountered... a difficult problem she couldn't solve at all.
"Okay, okay, okay, I was inconsiderate."
He immediately followed the advice, sheathing his sword stance. "Then I'll go practice in the yard for a while, refine my skills, and strive to reach the standard of supporting a family sooner."
Wangshu winked at Little Jingliu and didn't dwell on it, turning and walking toward the courtyard.
Although the weather on the Xianzhou was gradually turning cool, given his current physique, he didn't need to worry about such climate issues.
"What was that..."
Supporting a family... Listening to the sound of Little Wangshu closing the door, only then did Little Jingliu mumble to herself. Her thoughts involuntarily drifted away. By the time the corners of her mouth curved up slightly and she looked back at the exercise problems in front of her, the bit of fantasy was instantly shattered by reality. She clutched her head in despair again.
"Ugh..." She hugged her head desperately, burying her face in the crook of her arm, sighing in a muffled voice. "The teacher was right... falling in love really does affect academic grades!"
***
Out in the yard, the artificial canopy didn't seem to block the stars in the far distance. There was still a faint glimmer in the night sky, just not as dazzling as on Earth... well, the places and times one could clearly see a sky full of stars on Earth didn't seem to be many either.
"Why is it specifically the Calamity-Breeding Swarm King?"
Approaching sleep, points he hadn't thought of during the day popped up one after another.
"Is it because the Calamity-Breeding Swarm King itself is closest to the Swarm Imperator and is still constantly evolving?"
"Thinking of it this way, does my fusion with the Propagation remnants count as blocking the other party's path?"
Wangshu remained silent for a while upon thinking this. It was better to wait until he could proficiently use his power before contemplating such dangerous topics.
The living room's light cast a warm yellow glow over the yard. Wangshu watched Little Jingliu doing her homework and stopped swinging his sword, standing quietly in the courtyard.
Such a peaceful atmosphere made Wangshu's heart quite tranquil. His senses even truly broke through space; even the nesting of Cangcheng's major and minor Delves couldn't affect his perception.
Cangcheng was peaceful with no war. However, right at the edge of this perception of tranquility, a scent of blood, so thick it couldn't be dissolved, suddenly encroached like thick ink dropped into clear water.
Before Wangshu could ponder, that aura came like a meteor... crashing straight into the courtyard.
Bang!
A dull impact mixed with the sound of shattering tiles rang out. A figure, like an out-of-control meteor, smashed ruthlessly into the edge of the small courtyard's wall, sending dust flying.
"What happened, Little Wangshu!"
Jingliu in the living room was startled by the loud noise. She stood up abruptly, her crimson eyes looking toward the courtyard in shock and suspicion.
Wangshu looked at the heavily injured Cloud Knight in front of him. The blood on the Cloud Knight's body was even soaking the green stone slabs. His mind went blank. You just... crashed precisely in front of me?
Does this count as fate, or coincidence?
"Urgent... urgent... military intel..." The Cloud Knight on the ground struggled to raise his head. His unfocused gaze tried its best to focus, looking at Wangshu who was closest to him. Every breath carried bloody foam. "Quickly report... to the General's Residence."
Before he could finish speaking, he coughed up another mouthful of fresh blood. The fire of his life was like a candle in the wind, flickering on the verge of extinguishing.
Wangshu subconsciously wanted to ask for help in the chat group, but the matter was already right in front of him; it was truly too late to delay.
"Hold on, I'll take you to the Alchemy Commission."
Borrowing the peaceful state of mind from just now, his perception rapidly enveloped the area. Wangshu propped up the wounded soldier with one hand.
But it was still too late. Several creatures of indistinguishable race, looking like centaurs, had already intruded into this peaceful city. Their speed was extremely fast, wind birthing beneath their hooves.
At this very moment, above the canopy of Cangcheng, Shuhu quietly lowered his gaze to watch this scene.
"I actually misjudged; an outsider possessing strength..."
Although the reason was unclear, the predetermined script always required someone to open the curtains. Wangshu's appearance saved Him quite a bit of effort.
"The plan always needs someone to initiate it."
Shuhu's voice was soft as the wind. "It just so happens that this suddenly appearing powerhouse might be able to bring a bit of confidence to this war-free Cangcheng."
"A meeting of the Denizens of Abundance—this is the best opportunity to catch them all in one net."
No matter what, Cangcheng was a member of the Xianzhou Alliance. It was impossible to ignore such a great opportunity for war. And after the Xianzhou Alliance had enjoyed great victories for so many years, it was time for them to take a hard fall.
As for that Swarm King... ignore her. The Huoshi Swarm King simply didn't have the ability to disrupt the situation of the war. At worst, after the matter was done, Rahu could use her to vent anger; besides, the two of them didn't have any grudge.
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