Above the Galaxy

"You are a bridge and lubricant between Antonio and Tang Fei... While safeguarding the Empire's interests, you must also maintain a good relationship with them."

"This is very difficult, so I'm entrusting it to you two. I believe you will not disappoint me."

The two were moved, and immediately performed the Aus Empire court etiquette with sincerity and gratitude to Prince Philip: "Your Highness, we guarantee to complete the mission."

"We are willing to serve Your Highness, even at the cost of our lives."

Prince Philip stood up and helped them up: "Live on, only by living can there be a beautiful future. The Empire needs you."

------

Phoenix City. Luojia Mountain.

After Shen Xinglan was seriously injured, Shen Wuxiang did not take him to the Qi Mountain headquarters but directly sent him to Shen's Mansion.

If Qi Mountain is the military headquarters of the Shen Family, then Luojia Mountain is the 'root' of Shen's Mansion.

Uncle Biao died in battle, Shen Boyu is recuperating in the back mountain, and now Shen Yan guards the old mansion.

Shen Yan's talents are unremarkable; in the illustrious Shen Family, he can only be considered 'mediocre.'

But his status is prestigious, as he is Shen Wuxiang's eldest son and Shen Xinglan's father.

He had been a law professor at the Imperial Maritime College, but now that the Shen Family is in 'trouble,' he had to halt his courses and return home with his wife Bai Yuhua to watch over the family.

Shen Yan is gentle by nature and has rarely raised his voice at anyone in his life. Seeing his son injured like this, he angrily said: "Who on earth injured Xing Lan like this? How could they be so vicious?"

Shen Xinglan's chest was pierced, his face white as paper, eyes tightly shut, looking as if he were dead.

Parents seldom care about what their children do outside; their own children are always good. Naturally, those who harm their children are ruthless people.

Shen Wuxiang did not respond.

He is not an academic from the ivory tower but a Great General who fought his way out of the battlefield.

The world is a vast jungle battlefield where people win and lose, live and die.

Shen Xinglan being injured like this is a result of his lack of skill.

Have they not killed enough people?

It can only be blamed on those people lacking skill or choosing the wrong side and provoking the wrong people.

Shen Wuxiang looked at Shen Xinglan lying in the nutrition pod, knowing he had consciousness but refused to speak.

Once again, he had shut himself down.

Perhaps even more severely than last time.

As his grandfather, he had no idea how to comfort and guide him.

Can you say he didn't work hard?

Can you blame him for lacking talent?

Can you reproach him for not being bold and decisive enough?

In all aspects, he is top-notch, the most outstanding, dazzling young man under the Star Sky.

But ever since encountering that Tang Fei...

One loss, then repeated losses.

He probably developed a psychological shadow from losing.

"Father..."

Shen Wuxiang waved his hand and said: "Let him rest."

"Yes, father."

Shen Wuxiang came to the private territory on the back mountain of Luojia Mountain, passing numerous checkpoints.

He stood in front of the Cold Pond, gazing at the dark, deep water in silence.

No one knows how much time passed; he finally spoke softly: "Xing Lan is injured again, more severely than last time."

"The Aus Empire is watching closely, joining forces with the bandits to seize Liyu Port and several major cities."

"The Dushan Army has also rebelled... they have fought the Barbarians for decades, and I never expected they would have a day to fight side by side..."

"I handed over Lu Yu, used him to bring Xing Lan back... you suggested sparing his life back then, unexpectedly today he's of such great use."

"The internal situation is not good either, because we haven't been able to unify the overall situation, instead making them feel there's an opportunity..."

"Some are wavering, some are uneasy... I've been pondering a question, have we been overly benevolent?"

"To sit in that position, to uphold the Shen Family's reputation, we've been employing soft means wherever possible."

"Yet, this country is not ours, nor is the people's heart..."

"You once told me a story, Zeng Guofan was originally a scholar but was reluctantly drawn into war, which troubled him greatly. His friend Hu Linyi gave him a couplet: 'Have the heart of a Bodhisattva, wield the means of thunder.'"

"I think this couplet suits us too... Only blood and fire can bring us victory."

"There's nothing else; I just wanted to chat... take care and rest well."

Shen Wuxiang gave the Cold Pond a deep look before turning to leave.

At some unknown point, his towering, mountain-like stature began to stoop.

He is human, not a god.

He too feels weary.

The Cold Pond remains silent as a mirror, seemingly a pool of stagnant water.

Suddenly, the pond water churns and rolls, exploding with waves.

------

Jiuqu Ridge.

Also known as Kowloon Ridge.

From a high altitude, it appears as if nine giant dragons are coiling and winding, both magnificent and grand.

Among a sepia-yellow mountain ridge, a solitary vulture flies, its eyes scanning the ground like radar searching for a target.

A gust of wind passes.

Bang!

The vulture that had been peeking around earlier was suddenly turned into flesh by some unknown object.

With its brown-black eyes open, the vulture wanted to know...

What happened?

Who killed me?

"What was that?" Tang Fei opened his eyes and asked.

"A bird." Lu Siyu replied from the cockpit without turning, driving the Star Disc.

This is a micro stealth fighter; after putting an elder's Life Nourishing Instrument inside, it could barely accommodate Little Fatty, Tang Fei, and Lu Siyu.

Lu Siyu has to be in the cockpit, given that Little Fatty's physique occupies the space for two people...

Lu Siyu even teased Little Fatty, saying there was a reason Tang Fei didn't let him come over before.

Little Fatty, still drowsy, looked over and asked: "Have we arrived?"

"Not yet." Lu Siyu replied while chewing bubblegum, her expression extremely serious: "Almost there."

She is extremely cautious; although there is an autopilot system, she has been watching the radar display the entire time.

Because she values this mission more than anyone else, her closest relatives are in the cockpit.

"Nothing unusual, right?" Tang Fei asked.

"No… If there was, could you still sleep peacefully?"

"..."

This woman... her words are like poison.

Jiuqu Ridge is adjacent to the Barren Land. Tang Fei and the team chose to enter through here, intending to use the complex terrain to avoid the omnipresent sky radar.

Once entering the Barren Land, even if Shen Wuxiang's army caught up, it wouldn't help.

After all, the Lu Clan has been operating in the Barren Land for years, and it's not so easily breached.

If it were possible to break through, would they have waited until now...?

At this moment, the cabin rings with the sound of the intelligent system's electronic alert:

"Warning! Warning! We've been locked onto."

"Warning! Warning! We've been locked onto..."