Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Putian Xiangri hesitated a bit.

Lin Fu was undoubtedly exposing himself to danger while revealing the correct destination to them.

Yet in the end, he didn't raise any objections.

The Fourth Legion's official account released this news, and the citizens on the Star Network felt more than ever that the Fourth Legion was acknowledging their voices. Many flocked to the official message board to wish them a smooth journey.

May the journey to the Imperial Capital Star be smooth, and so too the path to promotion.

At that time, Qi Mingxi, who was shooting a film in the neighboring Kasor star system, connected to a video call.

The man on the other end of the virtual screen was still wiping green blood off his face, but the corners of his mouth couldn't suppress a genuine, heartfelt smile.

He had a small wound, half a finger long, on his cheek that was healing at a visible rate. Crimson blood seeped through the skin, mixing with the green droplets, then casually wiped away with his fingertip.

Jing Cun stood to his side, gesturing at his own neural implant, swiping through the screen continuously.

Clearly, he was very busy.

He lifted his wet hair, and the new assistant hurriedly handed over a hairdryer, but the agent intercepted it and instead passed a towel.

Qi Mingxi took it, placed it on his head to absorb the excess water, and asked with a beaming smile, "What’s up? The busy man multitasking three things at once still has time to contact me. Aren’t you afraid of being eaten by a bug?"

Cheng Jiu ignored his words, flipping through several pages before saying, "Do me a favor."

Qi Mingxi looked up, and his agent immediately greeted the surrounding people with a hearty laugh, "Qi is feeling a bit tired. We're going to take a short break and come back later."

Once away from the crowd, in a secluded spot, Qi Mingxi continued, "Go ahead."

Since reaching adulthood, Cheng Jiu had never asked him for "help." For someone as prideful as him to ask directly, it must be a matter of great importance.

The smile on Cheng Jiu's lips was quickly suppressed as he asked, "Have you seen the trends on the Star Network?"

Qi Mingxi: "Did you forget I don't go on the Star Network while filming?"

Cheng Jiu said, "Then you might want to take a look. There's going to be some turbulence in the Empire. I need your help to search for three people in the star systems near Kasor, especially on flights heading to the Imperial Capital Star. Jing Cun will send the details to your account later."

Qi Mingxi paused in drying his hair, squinting his eyes, "Understood." The people who could evoke such an expression from Cheng Jiu were few, and he quickly grasped the crux of the issue, "Since there's going to be turmoil, you'll be heading to the Imperial Capital Star soon, right?"

Cheng Jiu nodded: "Yes."

It had been a full three years since he last saw that kid... He wondered what he looked like now.

Qi Mingxi's interest was piqued, "I'll also be going to the Imperial Capital Star. I'm quite interested in Colonel Lin."

Cheng Jiu discarded his gloves and said softly, "Indeed, quite interesting."

After hanging up the video call, Jing Cun sent the information to Qi Mingxi's account and inquired to Cheng Jiu, "Admiral, if we return to the Imperial Capital Star now, the construction of the artificial wormhole between A9030 and S199 stars is a bit of a stretch."

Interstellar space jumps require the support of wormholes, and natural wormholes are a scarce resource, with most being artificially constructed.

The longer the jump distance, the more troublesome the construction of the wormhole. Especially those built at the border.

The insect race is sensitive to spatial fluctuations, and engineers are heavily disturbed by the insect race during construction, requiring substantial military forces to guard the site. Only with relentless vigilance during the construction period can the final build be completed.

The wormhole that Cheng Jiu needs to construct this time spans an especially long distance, nearly two hundred light-years, a distance that usually requires two to three wormholes to traverse.

Using one large wormhole to replace two... indeed, it would shorten the travel time between the two stars, but it's undoubtedly a risky move.

Fortunately, with Cheng Jiu, a living cheat code, personally overseeing the operation, the insect race can hardly approach, leaving engineers to focus solely on resolving technical issues.

He rested one hand lightly in front of him, the crook of his arm holding a neatly folded coat he had taken off, and looked down at the information about Lin Fu.

Suddenly stumbling upon something on the screen, his expression soured instantly, and his reply to Jing Cun was laced with an edge: "Tell them to speed up. They have one week. If they can't get it done, replace them all."

Without a doubt, the 'replace' Cheng Jiu mentioned meant to pull people out entirely.

Every legion has its own team of engineers dedicated to constructing wormholes, and for Cheng Jiu, the commander, to replace them... was merely a matter of giving the order.

Besides, this construction was taking unusually long.

Jing Cun watched as Cheng Jiu left, issuing orders to the star region where the wormhole was being constructed.

……

The news of Lin Fu's imminent arrival on the Imperial Capital Star spread throughout the empire; everyone knew that the fallen Fourth Army was about to welcome its new leader.

And it was a Guide General, no less.

Countless eyes on the Imperial Capital Star closely followed Lin Fu's movements; some were eager for his return, but many more wished for his demise en route.

The Fourth Legion gaining a new general was no cause for celebration among the nobility.

It meant a redivision of power and, likewise, a redistribution of resources. Strife was inevitable. The abundance of resources backing a legion was key to its strength.

Besides... dealing with a Cheng Jiu was troublesome enough, and Lin Fu, who had been close to Cheng Jiu since their military academy days, would give Cheng Jiu a significant boost if he took control of the Fourth Legion.

Numerous people harbored their own agendas, plotting how to choose sides to maximize their families' benefits.

The Lin family, though free from these concerns, was no less anxious than the major clans embroiled in conflicts of interest.

The Ninth Legion's clashes with the various families were beyond the Lin's involvement, yet Lin Fu's actions compelled the Lin family to stay vigilant.

The Lin family's past three years on the Imperial Capital Star had been far from pleasant.

Originally, Lin Fu had become a laughingstock across the stars for his deficiency in psychic power, subjecting the Lin family to ridicule in high society.

Then, despite Lin Fu's recovery, the Lin family didn't bask in any glory; instead, the mockery intensified.

Mention the Lin family in aristocratic circles, and anyone would dare say, "Lack of discernment, failure in upbringing."

Overwhelmed by mockery, Luo Qirui seldom left her home.

Lin Rui, the eldest daughter back from military school, strolled past Luo Qirui with an armful of packages, seeing her mother sullen on the sofa, her expression stern. She asked teasingly, "Mom, why are you always so glum? With that frown, even dad dares not come near you."

Luo Qirui shot her a sidelong glance and said coldly, "Lin Fu is about to return to the Imperial Capital Star, and you can still laugh?"

At the mention of Lin Fu's name, Lin Rui's face fell instantly, "Why bring him up? Hasn't he already severed ties with our family, becoming an enemy?"

Luo Qirui sneered, "Enemy? You lot are so inept that if he came knocking with his troops, you wouldn't stand a chance to resist!"

She slammed the table, "Both born of the same father, even sharing a mother from the same clan. You're supposed to be formidable Sentinels, yet you can't even match up to a Guide? And you still find reasons to laugh?"

Lin Rui's smile faded, and she sulked under the scolding.

Zhang Yunzhan descended from the second floor.

She was Lin Xiujian's spouse and Lin Fu's grandmother.

Luo Qirui ceased her scolding and stood up, calling out, "Mom, why have you come down?"

Zhang Yunzhan, of the Zhang family, was a rare S-class Guide, her marriage to Lin Xiujian a union of powerful clans. With her indifferent demeanor and a life of luxury, she appeared remarkably well-preserved, belying her age of over a hundred.

Rarely seen in public these days, her authority in the household was no less than Lin Xiujian's.

Luo Qirui, looking at her, couldn't help but say, "Mom... I know you dislike meddling in these matters, but Lin Fu's situation is inextricably linked to Lin Sicheng..."

Zhang Yunzhan's normally indifferent gaze sharpened suddenly, silencing Luo Qirui mid-sentence.

Sensing the tension, Lin Rui muttered, "Grandmother, I'll go upstairs," and hastily retreated.

Lin Sicheng was Zhang Yunzhan's younger son.

Initially, it was he who brought the greatest shame to the Lin family, entangling them in a feud with the Laine family, causing Carl Laine to despise the Lin family to the core.

She looked at Luo Qirui, "After so many years in the Lin family, you still haven't learned when to speak?"

Luo Qirui replied, "...You're right."

She couldn't help but defend herself, "I've faced too much scorn these past two years, and the moment news of Lin Fu returning to take command of the Fourth Legion broke, I lost my head and forgot Lin Rui was present."

Zhang Yunzhan's cold sharpness had flashed but briefly, returning now to her usual indifference, "Whatever the reason, as long as you're clear about it in your heart."

"Whether Lin Fu returns or takes command of the Fourth Legion, these are not matters we can influence. Worrying unnecessarily is less productive than considering how to manage your own two children."

She drooped her eyelids and said, “It was you who volunteered to take your sister’s place. Now, Luo Wei Can’s son is climbing the ranks while neither of your children can match even half of his achievements. Perhaps it's time to reflect on your own issues.”

Luo Qi Rui’s face flushed red in an instant.

The one thing she couldn’t bear to hear in her life was the mention of her replacing her sister to become Lin Si Ji’s second wife. She loathed even more when others compared her unfavorably with Luo Wei Can.

From the moment she was born, her constitution was inferior to Luo Wei Can’s, her status in the family was lower than Luo Wei Can’s, even the children she bore couldn’t match up to Luo Wei Can’s!

Even though that short-lived ghost Luo Wei Can had been dead for so many years, his shadow loomed over her persistently, casting its presence wherever she went!

Her chest seethed with suppressed rage, unable to vent her fury at Zhang Yun Zhan, she could only stifle it painfully within, her resentment towards Lin Fu growing more intense.

She should have killed that little bastard back then!

Zhang Yun Zhan glanced at her, took his time to instruct someone to drive the car, and they returned to the Zhang residence.

On the second floor, Lin Rui carefully closed the door’s crack.

She messaged her younger brother Lin Yan: “Do you know about uncle’s matter?”

Lin Yan replied with a puzzled question mark: “Why would you go home out of the blue? Mom will surely scold you.”

Lin Rui typed rapidly: “Indeed, I got scolded. But I overheard mom and grandma talking about uncle, this scolding seems rather worthwhile.”

Lin Yan: “What are you trying to say?”

Lin Rui glanced back at the door to ensure it was securely locked, then cautiously sent a message: “From their conversation, it seems like Lin Fu’s psychic abilities might really be related to our family.”

“Also... I suspect, uncle might not be dead.”