Chapter 16

Chapter 16

When Queqiu left Duocao Street, just like when he arrived, he was accompanied by a child with silver hair and gray eyes, with vast, sun-blocking sand dunes trailing behind them.

Queqiu's arrival had been as unexpected and delightful as a rare sunny day in a perennially overcast season, and his departure was equally regrettable and hard to let go.

Queqiu's brief stay of just over ten days at Duocao Street left an indelible memory for the people there.

Most of them would probably never forget the bright splash of color that graced their humble and insignificant lives. The beautiful and delicate Omega was like a bright, yet gentle sun, silently bringing warmth to everyone who came close to him.

Queqiu left in the early morning, while the moon still hung in the sky, and most of Duocao Street's residents had just fallen asleep. When Yang asked if he wanted a farewell party, Queqiu replied, "We will meet again. This departure is only temporary."

Dodd handed Queqiu a cloth bag adorned with small yellow flowers, filled with nutrient solution he had saved for days. Knowing Queqiu was headed to the Dark Star Military Academy, Dodd worried he might get hungry on the way and thus gave him all he had saved.

Pointing to the flowers on the bag, Dodd explained, "These are called 'Sasha' flowers. Their petals are the same color as sand, and they're the only flowers that can survive in the Gobi of the Dark Star. I don't know what the canary roses you mentioned look like, so I could only embroider these Sasha flowers to give to you."

"The pouch is filled with strawberry-flavored nutrient solution. I know the Dark Star Military Academy probably has plenty, but you can use these for the journey."

In reality, Duocao Street wasn't far from the main city area, just as Yang said. Directly opposite was the city gate of the main area, and the Dark Star Military Academy was located right in its center. It would only take half a day to get there by desert airship. Thus, Dodd's concerns were almost unnecessary, making his actions seem a bit redundant.

But Dodd was genuinely worried about Queqiu. In his eyes, such a young, overly beautiful, and fragile Omega, traveling alone with an Alpha cub, must have a hard time.

He felt deeply for Queqiu and couldn't help but want to do everything he could to be kind to him.

For the residents of the main city area, a few bottles of nutrient solution were trivial, but for Dodd from the slums, it was the only gift he could offer Queqiu.

"Thank you for your care for me and Mao Mao these days. I'll come back to visit you all when I have the chance," Queqiu sincerely expressed his gratitude as he accepted the gift.

Sometimes, graciously accepting someone's kindness is the best way to appreciate it.

As always, whenever Queqiu thanked him, Dodd's face would instantly turn as red as a ripe tomato, his discomfort almost palpable. His shy chuckle, mixed with the joy of a future meeting, tempered the sadness of parting.

"Hurry up, we need to reach the main city area before the sun rises," Yang, piloting a very old model of a desert airship, landed in front of Queqiu and Mao Mao.

Both the adult and child turned their attention to the airship. Queqiu was surprised that in this future interstellar era, a desert airship capable of flying in midair resembled an Earth-era tricycle in design. The main difference was that Yang's airship had a more streamlined shape, a smaller rear compartment, and an overall more futuristic mechanical appearance.

Dodd, noticing the nearly two-meter-high cargo compartment, complained about Yang's lack of consideration – how could an Omega climb up there? He hurried inside to get a stool to help Queqiu. But when he returned with the stool, he was stunned by what he saw.

The seemingly slender Omega deftly lifted the Alpha cub, and before anyone could react, he hoisted himself up the side of the cargo compartment with one hand, agile as a swift cat, and effortlessly climbed into the two-meter-high airship.

Queqiu landed steadily inside the compartment, causing the airship to dip slightly from the inertia, then stabilized without even a slight wobble.

Once stable, he gently placed Mao Mao down. Looking up, he saw Dodd standing there, dumbstruck, with a stool under his arm.

Queqiu's gaze shifted from Dodd to the stool and then noticed Yang also staring in disbelief, not at a fragile, willowy Omega but rather at an agile Alpha.

Even Mao Mao was gazing at his Omega mom with utter astonishment, seemingly unable to believe they had so effortlessly climbed aboard.

Mao Mao: "？"

Queqiu: "。"

After exchanging glances, Queqiu averted his eyes first, slightly uncomfortable, and cleared his throat to ease his embarrassment.

Queqiu glanced around aimlessly, wondering why everyone was staring at him so intensely.

Did he not fit the fragile image of an Omega in this world?

Perhaps he should jump down from the two-meter-high cargo hold, step on Dodd's stool, and climb up again?

Obviously, if he really did that, it would only lead to more astonishment.

But Queqiu was innocent; he had no idea that in this world, the combat and physical strength of Omegas were virtually non-existent. Not to mention climbing a two-meter-high vehicle like he did, even getting into an ordinary car would typically require a servant to provide a stool and assistance.

If not for most Omegas being healers with plant-based genes, they would indeed be nothing more than beautiful but useless ornaments.

The shock was so overwhelming that the sadness and reluctance of parting were almost diluted. Even after Yang's airship had gone far, kicking up exhaust and sand in its wake, Dodd remained frozen in astonishment, stool in hand.

Shortly after Yang took Queqiu and Mao Mao away, two groups arrived in Duocao Street, one of which was the group in white who had watched Queqiu's landing trajectory on the night of his arrival to the Dark Star.

They seemed to share a common goal: to find the missing Imperial General and first heir to the throne, the mutated monarch butterfly Alpha – Duan Chensen, who was allegedly on a secret mission on the Dark Star.

However, so far, both groups had come up empty-handed.

*

Commenting on Queqiu's unusual performance for an Omega, Yang said, "I've lived for many years, visited the main city area numerous times, and seen quite a few Omegas, but I've never seen an Omega like you, uh, so unique."

He struggled to describe Queqiu's actions, knowing that the desert airship model had been phased out by the main city area years ago, primarily because its high chassis made it difficult to board. Even a tall Beta like Dodd had to struggle to climb aboard, but Queqiu had made it look effortless, leaving him, Dodd, and Mao Mao utterly shocked.

In the eyes of the empire's people, Omegas were seen as delicate and pampered. Queqiu's actions were as shocking as if Lin Daiyu were pulling up willows or Xue Baochai were boxing in the western regions.

However, this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

"You look too easy to bully, being an Omega and so pretty. Being agile only makes it harder for others to take advantage of you."

Queqiu was surprised that Yang accepted the situation so quickly, a stark contrast to Dodd's reaction. It's no wonder Yang had been a street chief for so many years; his way of thinking was different.

He didn't really want to expend energy explaining the reasons, and since Yang didn't ask further, Queqiu vaguely glossed over it.

Queqiu's attention was on the airship beneath him. This desert airship, though discarded by the main city area and appearing old and lacking parts, with some of its metal exterior missing, was well-maintained and clean due to the owner's care, still looking neat and new even in the sandy environment of the Gobi.

Yang, noticing Queqiu observing his beloved vehicle, proudly said, "This airship has been with me for many years. Despite its dilapidated appearance, it has a large capacity, fast speed, and great functionality."

Queqiu asked, "Do you usually use this airship for transporting goods back from the main city area?"

Yang nodded, "The nobles in the main city area control most of the resources. Under their rules, slum residents are not allowed to enter freely. Only the leaders of each area can enter at designated times, and during this period, they can’t do anything other than claim supplies. They must leave within the specified time, and any violation results in losing the right to enter, with a new leader needing to be elected for that slum. If a slum repeatedly violates these rules, it will be labeled as a 'violating area' by the main city and will no longer be able to obtain necessities like nutrient solution through legal means."

"So, if labeled as a 'violating area,' even if a new leader is elected, they still can't enter the main city area? Where would they get their supplies then?"

Yang sighed, his words tinged with subtle helplessness, "They would have to resort to the black market in the Gobi, buying from smugglers who sell nutrient solution. Because these goods are illegally obtained, their safety and reliability are not guaranteed, so they are strictly suppressed by the main city area. Getting caught in such a trade is a crime for both parties involved, leading to exile to a mining planet, likely never returning to the Dark Star. Due to the high risks of black market trades, we, the leaders of the slums, pay close attention to the rules to avoid being labeled as violating areas, as it's hard to remedy the situation once that happens."

After listening to Yang's explanation, Queqiu frowned, "Is there no other way besides trading with black market dealers?"

Yang replied, "There is one way to revoke the punishment for a violating area – if the violating slum can provide a healing Omega, their prior violations will be erased."

He continued, hesitantly, "But..."

But on a place like the Dark Star, a land of exile, besides 'defective' wandering Omegas like Queqiu forced into exile, normal Omegas wouldn't want to come, and native healing Omegas would find ways to leave. How could a healing Omega appear in a slum?

So this so-called remedy was nothing more than an empty promise.

Queqiu knew the residents of places like Duocao Street had hard lives, but he never realized the truth was far more severe than he had thought.

Beyond the harsh living conditions, there were such cruel social rules. Every unequal rule ingrained the survival of the fittest into everyone's bones. In a highly civilized and developed world, darkness and barbarism were displayed so starkly, without any attempt to conceal it.

Here, human life was truly insignificant. To those who made the rules, only those with value deserved to be treated as real humans; others who couldn’t offer value were merely lower beings, surviving on handouts in the Gobi.

Those needing redemption and healing were not just Alphas mutated and driven mad by genetic diseases.

There are many on the Dark Star who have not succumbed to genetic disease, yet their appearance remains repulsive and despicable.

The hearts of the people on the Dark Star are even harder to face than the harsh sun of the Dark Star itself.

Author's note:

Although some readers might tire of the repeated descriptions of Queqiu's golden hair and eyes shining like the sun,

What I really want to convey is that Queqiu will indeed become the sun of the empire.

He will bring light to every dark corner.