Above the Galaxy

That's overly harsh.

Why?

Tang Fei looked at Bo Gu and said in a deep voice, "This is a debt left by my father. He promised things to you all but didn't fulfill them... I will definitely fulfill those promises."

"A son pays his father's debt, I'll fulfill his promises."

Phoenix, feeling guilty, spoke up upon hearing Tang Fei's words, "I will do my utmost... to ensure the Barbarian Clan enjoys a better life."

Bo Gu burst into a big smile. Someone was willing to lead the Barbarian Clan to a better life, which naturally made him happy.

Moreover, this person was the son of General Tang Li, which made him even happier.

If it were someone else, he might worry that person was here to exploit the Barbarian Clan as labor again.

General Tang Li's son was different... even if he makes the Barbarian Clan work hard, it would be for their own good.

Yes, Bo Gu, despite having brief contact with Tang Fei, learned self-guide strategies like Little Fatty.

In Little Fatty's heart, his big brother would never deceive him.

If his big brother deceives him, it must be for his own good...

The excellent qualities of the Barbarian Clan.

"Alright, then I'll first pass the position of Clan Leader to Little Fatty." Bo Gu said, "By the way, Little Fatty... do you have a name?"

"Gong Shulei," said Little Fatty. "Godfather said my name is Gong Shulei."

"Oh, the surname of a human woman." said Bo Gu.

Little Fatty looked at Tang Fei, unaware of the origin of his mother's surname.

"Gongsu Xiaoyi," Tang Fei said aloud. "Your mother's name was Gongsu Xiaoyi... she was your godfather's niece."

"Gongsu Xiaoyi," Little Fatty's eyes lit up as he softly muttered that name.

Even though he never met his mother, knowing her name made him feel closer to that woman...

A vague shadow seemed to appear in his mind.

"Gong Shulei?" Bo Gu knew this was a Phoenix people's name and asked, "Do you have a Barbarian Clan name?"

"..."

Tang Fei looked at Bo Gu and said, "Leader Bo Gu is his uncle... how about you give him a Barbarian Clan name?"

Bo Gu nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Let's call him Batu... in our Barbarian Clan, it means a resilient stone and a brave warrior."

"???"

Little Fatty was utterly confused.

What? Batu?

"Great name." Tang Fei applauded and praised, "Professional tasks need professional people. Leader Bo Gu picked this name, which is both beautiful and fitting..."

Tang Fei excitedly patted Little Fatty's shoulder and said, "From today, your Barbarian Clan name is Batu... Are you happy?"

"Happy..." Little Fatty was so joyful that tears almost welled up.

He looked at Tang Fei and pleaded, "Brother, can you still call me Little Fatty when we leave Dushan?"

"No problem." Tang Fei nodded and said, "Having a Barbarian Clan name makes it easier for you to integrate and become part of the Barbarian Clan."

Seeing his chosen name receive approval from Tang Fei and Little Fatty, Bo Gu was very pleased and immediately summoned the Barbarian Clan leaders for a meeting.

During the meeting, Bo Gu stated three major reasons for abdicating to Little Fatty, which gained unanimous approval.

Thus, Bo Gu arranged for the tribe-wide sacrificial ceremony.

Yes, according to Barbarian Clan rule, once a new Clan Leader is selected, they must offer sacrifices to ancestors and the Dark Night God.

The ceremony was complicated, solemn, and respectful.

Little Fatty cooperated fully.

No choice, his big brother asked him to cooperate...

Tang Fei, Phoenix, and Lu Siyu, as guests, were much more relaxed.

Not only did they roam around the cave but also explored the undulating Dushan.

One morning, while Tang Fei was eating Sand Worm Porridge with the new Clan Leader Little Fatty and Bo Gu, a Barbarian Clan leader came to report: someone wishes to see the Clan Leader.

"Who are they?" Bo Gu asked.

"They claim to be envoys from the Aus Empire..."

Bo Gu flushed with apprehension that Tang Fei might misunderstand and think that the Barbarians were fickle-hearted, having promised to cooperate yet tangled with the Aus Empire, shouted angrily, "Kill them... send their heads back."

The Barbarian Clan leader was troubled and said, "We don't have planes... can't send the heads to the Aus Empire."

Bo Gu was furious, thinking how these fools became leaders?

"Can't you leave one alive to take the heads back?"

The Barbarian Clan leader suddenly understood, delightedly saying, "Yes, I'll go slaughter them now."

"Wait." Tang Fei interrupted and said, "Bring them in... I want to chat with them."

He, too, wanted to know why the Aus Empire sent envoys at this time.

------

Shen Qingping was feeling uneasy.

After sending Tang Fei, Little Fatty, and others to the Barbarian Clan territory, he was driven away by those nasty Barbarians.

What a joke?

As a senior leader in the Dushan Region, willingly taking risks to enter the Barbarian Clan territory...

Yet they refused to allow him?

What are they guarding against?

"I wonder how their talks are going." Shen Qingping thought to himself.

They've been parted for a week now, and there's still no news of Tang Fei and Phoenix.

Could they have been eaten by those Barbarians?

Such a thought emerged... he was worried.

After all, he wanted to board Tang Fei's dilapidated ship.

Upon opening the fridge to get a beer to calm his nerves, he discovered the beer cooler was already empty.

Resorted to an ice cream...

Yes, the Empire sent ice cream monthly as supplemental supplies. Shen Qingping seldom enjoyed these overly sweet foods.

Now... it's better than nothing.

Sitting at the entrance of the cave, eating ice cream while pondering the dangers of Tang Fei's journey and the pros and cons of cooperation with them.

Just then, a service soldier ran over, saluted, and said loudly, "General, there's a gentleman with the surname Tang wanting to see you."

Shen Qingping immediately got up and said, "Quickly, let them in."

------

Golden City.

Named for its proximity to Dushan and its rich gold resources.

This evening coincided with City Lord Zhao Depu's sixtieth birthday, being celebrated with a grand banquet at the City Lord Mansion.

The lights were dazzling, the wine flowed freely, guests and hosts were in full cheer.

At the head table near the stage, Zhao Depu raised his wine glass and said with a smile, "The old saying is true, thirty to establish, forty to be free of doubt, fifty to know destiny, sixty to be agreeable..."

"Now I'm at the stage of sixty agreeable years, enjoying drinks and small gatherings with friends. I leave the affairs of state to the young people to worry about."

"City Lord is still vigorous, now is the prime time for career building. The country faces difficulties, Qin Lu and their family strife at the border... The aftermath is indeed worrying." said City Defense General Yuan Minghui, holding his wine glass and speaking solemnly.

"Brother Minghui, at my age, excessive worry could harm my health." Zhao Depu laughed heartily and looked at Yuan Minghui, "Brother Minghui is better off strategizing. It's a time for heroes in tumultuous times, the right time for soldiers to win honors... You're still young, with much potential."

"I guard Golden City, protected by the danger of Dushan and strong artillery... It's unrealistic for those Wildmen to cross over." Yuan Minghui said with regret, "Without enemy chieftains to kill or heads to take, how can one achieve merits?"

"True indeed," Zhao Depu nodded seriously, "When I took office, all said Golden City and Dushan are neighbors, too dangerous."

"But, for decades, no Barbarian has crossed Dushan. Plus, this city is rich in gold... Although not as precious as during Blue Star's great catastrophe, it's still a rarity, women will ultimately buy some gold jewelry..."

"We Gold people are both comfortable and wealthy... I'm truly reluctant to give up the seat beneath me."

"City Lord is energetic, can serve another ten or eight years."

"Indeed, we petition the central government, they'll consider it... "

"I have some connections with the Shen Family... Shall we help City Lord maneuver a bit?"

------

At that moment, a young military officer hurried over, stopping in front of City Defense General Yuan Minghui, and urgently said, "General, there's an enemy attack..."

"???" Yuan Minghui.

Just as he was about to sleep, someone brought him a pillow?

Others also looked over in astonishment, this Golden City... who could attack it?