“Chapter 73”

"Chapter 73"

"With the continuous efforts of Qiu Qiu and the healing Omegas, the remaining nearly hundred genetically diseased Alphas and Betas in the healing room were properly treated, preventing their conditions from worsening. They achieved an almost impossible feat, producing not just satisfactory but shockingly unbelievable results."

"Before this, no one in the Dark Star Military Academy, including the Alphas and Betas in the healing room, dared to believe that Qiu Qiu could really create such an impossible miracle."

"Even they could hardly imagine that the healing Omegas would actually set aside their prejudices against Alphas and Betas to extend a helping hand under Qiu Qiu's guidance."

"Amidst their astonishment, despite their disbelief, faced with the undeniable truth, all they could do was marvel at the miracle."

"A genuine, unquestionable, eye-catching miracle."

"Everyone at the Dark Star Military Academy no longer saw Qiu Qiu as just 'a formidable combat Omega,' but hailed him as the academy's sun, symbolizing someone who could truly shatter the darkness and bring them light."

"The Princess Knight Corps, initially more of a playful concept, started seeing a serious influx of Alphas and Betas. Many were initially drawn to Qiu Qiu's striking looks, underestimating him as a delicate, beautiful vase, whimsically choosing combat, and incapable of enduring hardship."

"But after Qiu Qiu's consistent, impressive performances, no one viewed him as a mere vase anymore. He proved with absolute strength that he was not only more than a combat Omega but also surpassed even the A-class combat Alphas, despite appearing delicate and 'unable to endure hardship.'"

"Those who initially judged Qiu Qiu with prejudice were now completely captivated by his charisma and willing to follow him forever."

"Everyone looked forward to Qiu Qiu's future accomplishments. He was no longer merely referred to as 'that little Omega.' Some affectionately called him 'Princess,' but many, upon encountering him, excitedly addressed him as 'Chief Qiu Qiu' in respect."

"Undoubtedly, Qiu Qiu was the deserving chief, not just limited to the first-year combat class."

"Following the healing Omegas' outstanding performance, the grumblings about the school's favorable treatment towards Omegas diminished. While many still playfully stereotyped them as delicate, it became more of a benevolent stereotype. Instead of seeing it as a problem, it reinforced the idea that such fragile Omegas deserved protection and accommodation."

"Beyond the students' adoration for Qiu Qiu and their revised views of the healing Omegas, the school administration, led by Principal Geb, held a special commendation ceremony after consulting various opinions."

"Principal Geb personally presented Qiu Qiu with the Dark Star Military Academy's Medal of Honor. The medal, crafted from silver dense iron, bore an expansive Gobi desert with a brightly blooming Shasha flower at its center."

"In that moment, all lights in the hall focused on the Medal of Honor, and all eyes were on Qiu Qiu."

"The silver metallic luster shone like the brightest star in the night sky, tirelessly twinkling, narrating the feats of its bearer."

"‘To all the faculty and students of Siku Star Military Academy, whether Alpha, Omega, or Beta, we will remember your glory and forever recognize the contributions you have made to the school.’"

"This is an honor for you and for all healing Omegas. Everyone in this school will take pride in your achievements and defend your honor with their own," Principal Geb's words echoed through the auditorium, reaching everyone’s ears.

Looking around, Queqiu saw everyone sitting upright and proper, their eyes filled with admiration and respect for them, and their faces brimming with pride.

As the speech ended, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, accompanied by ten saluting cannons outside, creating an enduring song of praise and accolade for Queqiu and other healing Omegas like Bai Tianxing.

Especially the Alphas and Betas whom Queqiu had healed were so moved that their faces turned red, clapping with all their might in excitement.

None of them could forget the flower symbolizing hope and life that appeared in their most desperate moments, nor could they forget the person who brought it all.

Now, he stands on the award podium, piled high with honors, basking in everyone's adoring gaze and fervent praises, a well-deserved chief, the undisputed sun.

Figo, having recently recovered from a severe illness, sat with Tang Butian and Xu Feng. His feelings for Queqiu were deeper and more complex than those of his two brothers.

For Figo, Queqiu, who repeatedly rescued him from the depths of darkness and gave him a new life, was akin to a deity reincarnated.

He worshipped him, admired him, loved him, and pitied him.

His precious princess, his fervent sun, his revered deity, his longed-for salvation.

After facing life and death, Figo's personality had become more composed. Unlike Tang Butian and Xu Feng, who were so excited that they had to hold each other's hands to prevent themselves from jumping up, he appeared rational by comparison, simply smiling and applauding for Queqiu until the applause in the hall faded, finally stopping.

Figo seemed calm on the surface, but inside, his heart was surging with emotions, his blood boiling with intense turmoil. Only his eyes, unable to hide his feelings, revealed his respect and loyalty to Queqiu.

As Principal Geb gave his congratulatory speech to Queqiu, Figo was also making a solemn promise in his heart: from now on, he would live to defend Queqiu's honor, even if it meant sacrificing his life.

If Queqiu was a princess, then he would be her most loyal knight;

If Queqiu was the sun, then he would be its most steadfast shadow;

If Queqiu was a deity, then he would be his most devout follower;

And it wasn't just Figo; almost everyone who had been saved by Queqiu shared the same sentiment, echoing a common resolve in that moment:

For them, Queqiu was not just the sun guiding their path and dispersing the darkness, but a presence more vital than their own lives, the only deity to whom they vowed eternal allegiance.

Yan Weili and An Weiran stood to one side of the award platform, hidden from the students' view by a ten-meter-long silk red curtain draped to the floor, creating a blind spot.

Yan Weili clapped his hands, his expression relaxing into a rare smile, jokingly remarking, "You've struck gold this time. Such an outstanding student doesn’t come along often for instructors."

An Weiran lifted his head, gazing intently at Queqiu. His usual icy demeanor completely melted away, his eyes brimming with admiration and fondness.

"Though I'm called an instructor, in reality, I haven't taught him much. His brilliance seems innate. Next to him, even the most exceptional people get overshadowed by his radiance."

"Having worked with you for so long, this is the first time I've heard you praise someone like this. It seems this young fellow is indeed remarkable, capturing the attention of someone as discerning as you."

An Weiran smiled and shook his head, "It's not praise; it's the truth."

His gaze remained fixed on the petite Omega from start to finish, never wavering.

"Some people become the focal point of everyone's attention the moment they appear; others make you feel that, no matter the hardships, there is still hope. Queqiu is such a person, isn't he?"

Yan Weili pondered for a moment, recalling his few interactions with Queqiu. Although he had been outwitted every time, it also indirectly showcased Queqiu's capabilities.

"You're right," he laughed heartily, "This little Omega, even someone with the poorest vision can see his limitless potential."

An Weiran smiled silently. After a while, he changed the subject, asking Yan Weili, "I know the practical exams for freshmen are almost a life-threatening challenge. That's why I started preparing for it a month before the final practical exam."

Yan Weili's expression gradually turned solemn with An Weiran's words.

"So, even though so many days have passed and those freshmen who nearly suffered genetic disease outbreaks during the practical exam are now out of danger, I still can't figure out why there was a surge of insects at the border of Dark Star."

"In this recent practical assessment, two B-grade Alpha freshmen died because of genetic illness, and another five C-grade Alphas died in insect attacks. If it weren’t for Autumn stepping up first and the help of some healing Omega, the number of casualties would have doubled."

"And those sacrificed Alphas should have been lively and sitting with their peers, across us in the venue, applauding to celebrate the glory of their chief. But now, they are just cold numbers of death in my report." Instructor An turned his head, gazing intently at Yan Weili: "Director, I can't get over this hurdle. Can you tell me why a routine practical assessment turned out like this?"

Yan Weili met his gaze, his tone serious: "An accident, by its nature, signifies something unpredictable before it happens."

He consoled: "Nobody wants such accidents to occur, you shouldn't blame yourself too much."

Instructor An lowered his head, murmuring: "Was it really an accident?"

"After speaking, not waiting for Yan Weili's response, he began to laugh softly, his shoulders trembling with suppressed mirth."

"'An accident? Really, an accident?!'"

"He questioned angrily, 'Dark Star has no border troops, so minor Zerg harassments can go unnoticed, unreported; but a Zerg swarm of invasion scale? They fail to detect that too, leaving it to freshmen who've only had one term of military training to fill this gap with their lives? If so, what's the use of these border troops? Might as well send all the military school students to guard the borders!'"

"Seeing Anwei Ran's agitated state, Yan Weili frowned and admonished, 'Instructor An, calm down!'"

"Anwei Ran scoffed bitterly, 'No need to remind me. I’m calmer now than ever, fully aware of how many of my students died in the Gobi, and how useless those border troops are!'"

"Yan Weili’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing Anwei Ran speak so openly and quickly covered his mouth, ushering him backstage."

"Only when sure they were alone did he release Anwei Ran, his forehead veins bulging with anxiety, 'Have you lost your mind?! The border troops are the lord’s private army. Speaking like that is tantamount to insulting the nobility. You may not care for your life, but what about your students?'"

"Anwei Ran huffed coldly, his voice a mix of pent-up rage, 'Lord? Nobility? So, they can just let the border troops neglect their duty, causing so many students to die in the Gobi! Some of them couldn’t even be found, devoured by the Zerg, leaving no trace behind!'"

"'And what can you do about it?! You find out it was the border troops’ negligence that let the Zerg in, their mistake that caused the students' accident, then what? You storm the lord’s mansion and kill him in anger, will that bring those students back to life? Will our borders suddenly become impenetrable?!'"

"Yan Weili’s stern questioning brought Anwei Ran back from his delusion. He hung his head, falling silent, as if shutting himself off from the world."

Seeing this, Yan Weili's tone softened, "Weiran, as the head of education, I'm responsible for all aspects of our students' lives here at the school. I feel the pain and sorrow of these accidents just as much as anyone. But we are powerless, do you understand? Powerless."

Those four words conveyed the heartache of two S-class Alphas facing a situation where they were helpless.

Yan Weili let out a long sigh, his usually stern expression hiding other emotions.

"If only there were a way."

The hatred that had been fueling An Weiran seemed feeble against such a remark: Yes… if only there were a way…

He gave a bitter smile, suddenly drained of energy, staggering back a few steps, his lips devoid of color.

Yan Weili wanted to say something more but eventually didn't. Before leaving, he patted An Weiran's shoulder, offering comfort, "You should see the little Omega for some mental guidance. You're under too much pressure. If this continues…"

An Weiran interrupted him, quietly saying, "I know."

The other paused, then footsteps slowly receded into the distance.

An Weiran remained in this disheartened posture, leaning against the cold wall, lost in thought for a long time.

He aimlessly stared at the ground, thinking, do I really have to stay on Dark Star?

In a place with no hope, no future.

Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly noticed a pair of combat boots in his line of sight, and then two slender, straight legs.

An Weiran looked up, staring blankly at Queqiu.

Queqiu didn't speak either.

In the confined space, it was so quiet that even the sound of a heartbeat could be heard.

It took a while before Queqiu took out another Shasha flower from his pocket and handed it to An Weiran, saying, "I forgot, I picked an extra one."

An Weiran received it in a daze, his mind disconnected from his body for a long stretch of time.

It was only after a while that he suddenly seemed to remember something urgent and tried to speak, but before he could utter the word "you," Queqiu interrupted him.

With little expression on his face, Queqiu asked in a casual manner, "Do you need mental guidance? I happen to be free now."

An Weiran was stunned again. He had intended to ask Queqiu how long he had been there, how much he had heard, fearing that he might act impulsively after knowing everything, but Queqiu seemed oblivious—

Wait, oblivious?

An Weiran looked sharply at Queqiu, observing him more closely than before, and then realized that Queqiu seemed excessively calm.

But his eyes did not look normal.

An Weiran had an epiphany, understanding why Queqiu appeared so uninformed. Accepting this, he took the Shasha flower, nodding to Queqiu, "If you’re willing, I’d be honored to be one of your patients."

Queqiu softly hummed in acknowledgment, saying, "I will cure you."

*

After the end-of-term practical exam, Queqiu, already in high demand, received the Medal of Honor, making him even more prominent. He became a person of interest not just in Dark Star Military Academy but throughout Dark Star.

Si Ku Star Military Academy Internal Forum >>> Life and Leisure

Topic: Perhaps a thread for exchanging experiences with fellow patients. Anyone willing to share how the princess provided you with mental guidance?

Main Post: Let me start off. I'm an unlucky Alpha from the first-year combat department who hit the "jackpot" on my first practical exam. When I was taken to the treatment room, I only had one thought: I’m doomed.

At that time, I didn't know that nobody was taking care of the treatment room. Ever since I was little, I've seen my Alpha family members die one after another from genetic disease, without even a complete body left behind. Since then, I've had a deep-seated fear of genetic disease.

But! What I never expected was, just when I thought I was really going to die and had lost all hope, the princess appeared!

Do you know how I felt at that moment?! The phrase 'crying with joy' is too calm to describe it. I was so excited I couldn’t speak or move my hands properly (Looking back now, I feel so embarrassed. I must have looked so inexperienced and probably left a bad impression on the princess).

"In the end, my life was first given by my mother, and the second time, it can be said it was given by the princess!"

"I've joined the knight order and I swear, I will be loyal and protect the best princess in the universe for my entire life!"

1L: "The princess and your mom both gave you life, so the princess = your mom."

2L: "First Floor understands equivalent exchange. Queqiu is the true mother of Dark Star Military Academy heroes."

3L: "Although, when I was receiving mental guidance from the chief, I felt his spiritual power was so warm and comforting, like the essence of life. How to describe it... It's like being a child again, injured, and being gently consoled in my mother’s arms."

4L: "I'm so envious hearing this... I almost want to have a genetic disease outbreak just so the princess can save me."

……

56L: "Believe me, you really wouldn’t want to experience the absolute despair of that pain. I was just found to have abnormal values in my body and was fitted with a biting inhibitor, treated like a dog and herded into a cage by the inspection team. If not for Queqiu, I would probably be a hideous corpse ready for incineration by now."

57L: "Don’t joke about genetic disease. Do you know the princess provided mental guidance to over twenty Alphas at once? Even someone as extraordinary as him needed several days to recover. You're trivializing his effort by making light of genetic disease."

……

178L: "Mental guidance for over twenty Alphas at once??? Did I hear that right???"

179L: "Damn, the principal didn't mention this at the commendation ceremony!"

180L: "Of course he couldn’t mention it. Getting it known wouldn't be a good thing. Haven't you heard the saying, 'A man is not guilty for possessing jade; his crime lies in having it known'?"

181L: "What’s there to be surprised about? This is Queqiu we're talking about! He’s a miracle worker!"

……

346L: "My God, even though I didn’t experience it firsthand, through your descriptions, I feel as if I was there, totally immersed in that despair, finally waiting for hope and salvation."

347L: "I used to dislike Queqiu. Seeing a bunch of Alphas and Betas fawning over him like lapdogs, I felt disdain and even badmouthed him on forums. But when I was lying in that pitch-dark treatment room, fearing the genetic disease slowly turning me into a beast, the one who saved me wasn't the deity I prayed to but the person I disliked. He probably doesn't even know someone like me exists, let alone that I disliked him. He saved me like he did others, even gave me a flower. After he left, I kissed that little flower still warm from his touch through the inhibitor, crying uncontrollably. Those who haven't experienced it will never understand the feeling of being favored, being saved. At that moment, I felt I would gladly die for him. After all, my life was essentially given by him."

348L: "The post above sounds so much like me... But I didn't dislike the chief. I just hated that Tiger Alpha around him and even used verbal abuse. I naively thought if genetic disease were to strike, it should hit him first, but I never expected it to happen to me... Before saving me, the chief even gave me a beating, and I thought he might hate me for what I did to his friend. But when he opened the door, held me gently, and comforted me, I knew then that everyone might hate me, but not the chief, because he's truly good, so good I can't even describe it. Maybe, like the post above said, all I thought then was that no matter what, even if I die, I can't let the chief fall into danger."

……

568L: "I'm a tough guy, but here I am, reading this post with tears in my eyes, and my roommate had to hand me tissues."

569L: "I won't cry (sunglasses emoji) Wuuu wuuu wuuu why is the princess so good TT"

570L: "No more words, tomorrow I'm bringing a box of nutrient solution to pay respects to the princess."

571L: "The princess will bless every unlucky child at Dark Star Military Academy (smiley face)."

……

901L: "That feeling of thinking you're abandoned but then being saved must be poignant. After reading this thread, it’s clear Queqiu is the undisputed chief, not just for his combat skills and exceptional grades, but most importantly, for his pure heart, like the heart of a pristine flower."

902L: "Of course, he is the only gift this detestable world has given us."

Author's note:

Feeling refreshed? (lights a cigarette)