Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Lin Fu didn’t consider himself Cheng Jiu’s lifesaver; even without his intervention, someone would likely have found and rescued Cheng Jiu soon enough.

The more he understood this world, the clearer it became that dragging Cheng Jiu back home and not being caught was absurd; someone must have covered their tracks afterward.

But Cheng Jiu's personal disputes involving him was Cheng Jiu's problem. Lin Fu felt perfectly justified in accepting his various overtures. Not only did he agree to travel with the military fleet to the Imperial Capital Star, but he also casually accepted Cheng Jiu’s offer to help Tang Qian’s family settle there.

The infestation on Monroe Star still needed to be addressed. After sorting through various matters, they departed for the Imperial Capital Star the next morning.

Cheng Jiu was already in uniform, the dark blue fabric crisply outlining his physique, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and long legs, a sight to behold.

Lin Fu narrowed his eyes when he stepped out and saw Cheng Jiu standing in the morning light.

Cool!

Why can't he build up his muscles?

In his mind, he estimated the difference in height between himself and Cheng Jiu, finding he was half a head shorter.

Half a year ago, the difference was more than a whole head.

"It's alright. The average lifespan of interstellar humans is two hundred years. I'm only nineteen. I can still grow. Half a head isn't hard to catch up on."

Cheng Jiu turned at the sound, gestured towards Lin Fu, raised the hat in his hand, put it on, and even with his eyebrows and eyes concealed, he couldn't hide the swagger that emanated from him: "Hey, kid, cool, huh?"

Lin Fu cracked a slight smile: "Cool indeed."

Cheng Jiu was startled by his sudden obedience, and the next second heard Lin Fu say, "It's much cooler than looking bloodied and battered."

Cheng Jiu: "..."

He let out a soft hiss: "Why so sharp-tongued, always poking where it hurts? Aren't you afraid that no sentinel will dare to take you with such ferocity?"

Lin Fu: "..." He felt ridiculed, in more ways than one.

After a bit of mutual ribbing, the Tang family of three finally left the house, politely greeting Cheng Jiu.

Mr. and Mrs. Tang looked back reluctantly at the place they had lived for over a decade, locked the door, and left.

When Lin Fu arrived at the port and saw the warship with his own eyes, a sparkle flickered in his gaze.

Especially when compared with the civilian starships docked not far away, the warship appeared even more magnificent, impossible to ignore even amidst the vastness of the stars.

Seeing him rooted to the spot, gazing at the warship, Cheng Jiu hooked a smile and teased, "How long do you plan to stand here and stare?"

Lin Fu pocketed his hands and boarded the warship, not bothering to hide his country-bumpkin demeanor. After all, it was his first sight of it. A preliminary exploration now would ensure better adaptation when he would board the warship in the future.

Tang Qian and his parents watched from behind as the two familiar figures boarded the starship together, feeling utterly perplexed. When had the two become so well-acquainted?

He had wanted to ask since yesterday. Did Lin Fu know this Major General Cheng?

He had tried to look up this major general. Someone so young achieving such a high rank, they shouldn't have never heard of him. But a search on the Star Network turned up nothing, as if the military had never had such a person.

"Xiao Qian, what are you looking at?" His father's voice pulled Tang Qian back from his thoughts.

The soldier who had led them to their room stood aside, waiting for him.

He offered an apologetic smile, shook his head, and followed his parents away. Yet, he couldn't resist looking back towards the direction Lin Fu had left in and asked the soldier, "Isn't he staying with us?"

The soldier replied, unsmiling, "The major general will make the arrangements."

Tang Qian frowned, holding back any inappropriate comments on someone else's turf.

*

After touring the interior of the warship, Lin Fu casually grabbed a tube of nutrient fluid for a makeshift lunch.

Cheng Jiu glanced sideways, observing the half-transparent, milky liquid that Lin Fu was gulping down and squinted his eyes, "I've been meaning to ask, why do you always drink plain nutrient fluid?"

When living in Lin Fu's small rented room, all the boxes of nutrient fluid were the same—plain-flavored.

This stuff was so unpleasant that not only picky guides but even sentinels rarely consumed it. It tasted both fishy and astringent, a nutrient supplement that hadn't undergone any extra processing, making it extremely unpalatable.

Lin Fu dragged over a chair and sat down, gazing at the stars outside the window, counting the planets he recognized, estimating his current location. With a lazy tone, he replied, "It's cheap. The cost is half that of the flavored nutrient fluids of the same grade."

Cheng Jiu, mimicking Lin Fu's posture, sat down in another chair, slinging a leg over the armrest, placing his military cap on his knee, teasing, "I thought you were living the good life. Turns out you can't even afford nutrient fluid. Maybe you should take your brother's advice."

Lin Fu rolled his eyes, too lazy to respond.

He propped his chin on his hand, settling accounts with the system for the people he saved yesterday.

System: [Tally complete. Since the current environment is not conducive to optimization, it will be postponed.] The tone was quite cheerful, pleased that Lin Fu's stalled progress bar had finally moved after half a year.

Lin Fu: "To what extent can it be optimized?"

System: [In total, 197 individuals were rescued, of whom 136 were only indirectly assisted, yielding very limited energy. It's enough to optimize the host's physique to a D-level sentinel.]

Lin Fu's eyebrows twitched: "Over a hundred people, and that's all the energy produced?"

The system, somewhat exasperated: [Host, it has been established that the first person you saved was of a very high level, both in terms of his physical constitution and his social status. You cannot use him as a standard for measurement.]

Lin Fu's brows twitched more fiercely. He pressed them, thinking for a long while before saying, "This time, optimize the psychic power."

System: [Why?] Wasn't there a determination to develop combat strength?

The next second, without waiting for Lin Fu's response, he preemptively voiced the answer: "Because of the headaches?"

Lin Fu: "Mhm."

Initially, he suspected it was due to a lack of soul compatibility, but the condition persisting for a full half year was somewhat peculiar.

Since the energy was scant and physical strength could be enhanced through training, he decided to test if bolstering his psychic power could afford him a better grasp of his physical state.

The military cruiser was much faster than civilian starships, reaching the Imperial Capital Star by noon.

Tang Qian waited for Lin Fu at the port and whispered, "Have you been with Major General Cheng all this time?"

Lin Fu: "Yes, why?"

Tang Qian hesitated: "You two…"

Lin Fu: "There's nothing to speculate. Unless I join the army in the future, our paths won't cross again."

His words were casual yet certain, as if Cheng Jiu was of no consequence to him. Tang Qian breathed a sigh of relief.

Before he could fully relax, Cheng Jiu's voice rose from behind them: "Is that so?"

Tang Qian, like a man on his deathbed, tensed and didn't dare to exhale, his whole body awkward and he couldn't even turn around. Lin Fu, on the other hand, faced the brewing storm head-on with ease: "Yes."

Tang Qian was utterly clueless as to how Lin Fu could be so composed.

Fortunately, Cheng Jiu didn't seem to take offense.

He probably had pressing matters to attend to and decided to tease the youngster on a whim. Seeing Lin Fu steadfastly reject his proposals, he decided to change tactics: "Tell me if there's anything you want. Don't worry about saving me money; I'd feel more at ease that way."

Lin Fu's mind drew a blank, but he didn't want further ties with Cheng Jiu. A monetary settlement indeed seemed a fine resolution.

His gaze fell upon the two rings adorning Cheng Jiu's fingers, high-grade storage devices. Pointing casually, he said, "Whichever one you use less, just give that to me."

Cheng Jiu looked down at the rings on his hand, amused, and slid off the pinky ring: "Sure, take it."

Lin Fu took it and turned to leave, waving without looking back as a farewell: "Goodbye."