Above the Galaxy

Sheng Xinhua knew that this answer was inappropriate; it was like asking Mr. Sheng to fight Shen Wuxiang with a knife.

Shen Wuxiang came from a military background, while Mr. Sheng, a civil official, would suffer greatly.

Sheng Xinhua squinted at Sheng Jing, teasingly saying, "What's that? Getting tempted? You think marrying into the Shen Family might be a way to protect ourselves. How about I sacrifice myself for the family?"

"Sure." Sheng Jing sipped his bowl of hangover soup carefully, not even looking up as he said, "It's more than self-protection. If you marry Shen Xinglan, I'm confident that the family's power will rise by another level thanks to this connection."

Sheng Xinhua hurriedly corrected himself and said, "Mr. Sheng, I was just joking with you."

"I was joking with you too."

"..."

"You two still have the heart to joke?" Mei Yuyin said angrily, her lips swelling with impatience. "Shen Wuxiang has made a grand visit to propose such a... fanciful demand. Is this something to joke about? We owe him an answer, it's either yes or no."

"So do you think it should happen or not?" Sheng Jing asked.

"Of course it shouldn't. I've met Shen Xinglan before, looks refined and courteous, but... there's always a hint of pretentiousness."

"Like all those kids from wealthy families in Phoenix City, each one fake as if mass-produced from a factory, not as genuine as Tang Fei..."

"Tang Fei seems so good, doesn't he? Likes what he likes, dislikes what he dislikes, even when lying, there's a sense of sincerity."

"..." Sheng Jing.

"..." Sheng Xinhua.

The two knew that Lao Mei was like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, liking him more with each look.

Everyone had gotten to know each other, developing feelings over time.

Mei Yuyin used to make plenty of good food for Tang Fei, sending who knows how many nourishing soups.

Tang Fei had become the head of the bandits, yet you're still full of praise here...

If this gets to Shen Wuxiang's ears, there's no need for this marriage.

The young talents in Phoenix City would all be offended by your words.

Seeing the father and daughter silent, Mei Yuyin said sternly, "I'll state my position first, I do not agree to this marriage."

"I don't care if you continue being the Finance Minister or whether the Sheng Family can rise another level. I only have one daughter, she should marry whoever she likes, not someone she doesn't like for family honor."

"Lao Mei..." Sheng Xinhua's eyes reddened, overwhelmed with emotion: "You're really my real mom."

"Isn't that obvious? If I'm not your real mom, then am I a fake mom?"

"..."

Sheng Jing finished his hangover soup in one go, looking expressionlessly at his mother and daughter: "Isn't that what I've always said? Am I the only bad guy in the family?"

"When did I insist on being the Finance Minister? When did I decide to sacrifice my daughter for the Sheng Family's glory?"

"..."

This time, it was Mei Yuyin's turn to feel uneasy.

She stepped forward to grasp Sheng Jing's hand and said, "Mr. Sheng, you're a good husband and a good father. You've given all your love to us, everything you do is for our sake, for the mother and daughter's well-being..."

"..."

Sheng Xinhua felt both sour and envious.

And a bit of an eyesore.

Middle-aged romance really has a down-to-earth charm.

Sheng Jing patted Mei Yuyin's hand, looked at Sheng Xinhua, and said, "This visit from Shen Wuxiang is both a proposal and a forceful demand."

"If I agree to this marriage, I can continue my role as Finance Minister, and the Sheng Family's wealth and prestige can naturally carry on."

"If I don't agree, I'll have to step down from this position...as for the next step, it entirely depends on Shen Wuxiang's mood."

At this point, Sheng Jing also felt a sense of powerlessness.

A great man once said: Power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

He, one of the three ministers, held the national treasury.

But without soldiers and guns, people can take it away at will…

With any resistance, it's a rifle butt smashing down on you.

Thinking like this, he admires Tang Fei quite a bit.

Perhaps, this kid has paved a golden road against the tide?

"What's your plan?" Sheng Xinhua asked.

"Bring tea to my study."

"Drinking and still working?"

"Writing my resignation letter."

"..."

------

Jiulong Ridge.

'Warning! Warning! We've been locked on...'

The electronic mechanical voice abruptly rang in the cabin, making the three immediately tense and look at the radar display.

The fighter jet was flying too fast; even if they looked out through the portholes, they could only see a blurry light shadow.

Not to mention all the windows were sealed for stealth.

"Have we been discovered?" Little Fatty asked.

Even though they were stealth-mode, they were discovered?

"By whom?"

Tang Fei went straight to the point.

Although they took the most covert and rugged path, Shen Wuxiang deployed heavy troops in the Barren Land, targeting the Lu Clan with various cutting-edge tech piled in without restraint.

Safe arrival was his wishful thought.

Being discovered, however, was within his expectations.

"Not sure yet."

Lu Siyu operated some controls, then the screen displayed the real-time scene outside the cockpit.

Dozens of black fighter jets resembling bats appeared on the screen, chasing at light speed.

Through the barren mountain ridges, they traced countless black lines, looking like death's scythe tailing behind.

"Black Bat Formation." Lu Siyu said solemnly.

"Black Bat Formation?"

Tang Fei didn't know what this formidable thing was.

"The Mo Family's flying formation, also Shen Wuxiang's ace squadron."

"Hmm." Tang Fei nodded.

He knew of the Mo Family; their mechanical techniques are world-famous, comparable with the Lu Family's mechanical clan.

The flying formations they organized, whether aircraft or weapons, are undoubtedly top-notch.

He knew Shen Wuxiang too...

If only he'd have the luxury of being oblivious to it.

"They're very fast and tightly on our tail." Lu Siyu canceled the fighter's auto-cruise and began manual control.

"Can we shake them off?"

"Black Bat Fighter uses the Mo Family's latest Phantom 3000... our micro-fighter doesn't have such powerful capabilities."

They set out this time mainly to avoid enemy surveillance systems, secretly and safely escorting the old man back to the Barren Land.

Therefore, the chosen fighters prioritize being small and stealthy, but their combat and speed can't compare to the more powerful Phantom 3000.

Tang Fei frowned, drew the Yin Erosion Sword from his waist, and said, "Prepare for battle."

Little Fatty kept holding onto the Skull Hammer, never letting it down along the way.

"Wait." Lu Siyu spoke to dissuade them, saying, "The fighter may be lacking, but that doesn't mean I am."

"..."

Was there an ambush hidden all along?

Lu Siyu took the wheel in both hands and started her solo performance.

Swoosh!

The plane shot forward like a burning rocket.

Since they had been detected by the enemy, Lu Siyu simply disengaged the fighter's stealth mode.

Because it would greatly consume energy and reduce efficiency, it was better to channel all the power into speeding against the enemy fighters.

"The aircraft ahead, you have been locked on, stop immediately for inspection."

"The aircraft ahead, you have been locked on, stop immediately for inspection."

-------

Seeing Tang Fei and their fighter suddenly appear, Black Bat Formation's captain Zhao Jingzhi knew their tailing had been exposed, so he shouted via the communications system.

Unfortunately, the other side ignored them completely.

Just racing forward blindly.

Zhao Jingzhi got angry and shouted, "Everyone listen, split into three teams, form a circular encirclement... At all costs, force them to stop."

"Captain, what if the opponent chooses death over capture?"

"Permission to open fire. At critical moments, fire to shoot them down."

Recalling their orders, Zhao Jingzhi said fiercely, "We cannot let them enter Songhai, no matter what."

Just ahead of Jiulong Ridge lies Songhai; crossing Songhai leads to the Barren Land, which is controlled by the Lu Family.

At that point, the Lu Family could send support, and it would be difficult for them to emerge.

"Yes, Captain."

Dozens of pilots from the Black Bat Formation responded, immediately dividing into three teams, one continuing to trail closely behind, the other two expanding left and right to prepare for encirclement ahead.

Lu Siyu's hands moved faster and faster; even seasoned pilots with decades of flying experience couldn't match her speed.

The small fighter in her hands turned into a meteor, lightning, a symbol of speed.

Tang Fei could also move his hands quickly because he is a Cultivator.

Ordinary people could move that fast too...

Oh, she's a programmer.

The speed of programmers around the world is extremely fast.

Tang Fei held the sword, Little Fatty the Skull Hammer, both staring at the screen's map trajectory...

"Ahead is Songhai." Lu Siyu said, "Once we cross Songhai, we'll be safe."

Just as she finished speaking, an energy bullet swooshed toward them.

Boom!

The energy bullet exploded, flipping their plane several times.

If it weren't for Lu Siyu's strong control abilities, pulling the fighter to the explosion's edge in time, the fighter might have been shattered into pieces.

"They've opened fire." Little Fatty, face flushed, said through gritted teeth, "Let me out, I'll smash them."

"You can't catch up." Tang Fei stated.

Little Fatty isn't a Cultivator and can only rely on 'Brute Force' to increase speed.

To ordinary people, it already seems extremely fast, but in the eyes of Cultivators who master speed secrets, it's not impressive.

Moreover, the Black Bat Formation uses the most advanced Phantom Fighters, they can disappear with a single sprint.

How can you smash them?

Little Fatty is skilled in close-quarter combat.

The sides fought relentlessly, not ending until one side was knocked down.

"..."

Little Fatty's face turned even redder.

Big brother always speaks so directly...

Tang Fei glanced at the relentless Black Bats and said, "They know who we are, and they know what we're doing."

"Shen Wuxiang agreed to swap people... must've expected this." Lu Siyu said expressionlessly.

She intently stared at the radar screen; she must dodge immediately at any sign of a red dot.

Because one red dot equals one artillery shell...

Rumble...

Shell after shell continually landed around them, one slip could spell doom.

Beep beep beep...

"Alert!"

"Alert!"

"Alert..."

...

Suddenly, the 'warnings' from the smart assistance system rang out incessantly, the intelligent robot's speed increasing, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

At this moment, the radar screen was filled with flashing red dots.

A shocking sight!

Evidently, the opponent had abandoned 'interception', choosing direct 'elimination'.

"We surrender." Tang Fei said, "Tell them we surrender."

The opposing side already knew their identity; the orders received were surely 'capturing alive'.

After all, capturing them is akin to capturing the lifeline of Qin and Lu families, along with the Righteous Army.

With Shen Wuxiang's political maneuvers, he could enact countless strategies.

The greater one's capability, the greater the responsibility.

The greater one's responsibility, the more easily 'attached' it becomes.

No wonder there's a saying: A wise person avoids standing under a dangerous wall.

"Brother..."

Little Fatty panicked.

How can they surrender?

After surrendering, wouldn't they be taken hostage, leaving no chance of survival?

Besides, what about their foster father after surrendering?

"Let me go down; I'll fight them to the death."

Tang Fei patted Little Fatty's hand back, saying, "They're not worth it."

Lu Siyu hesitated slightly but still signaled 'surrender'.