Chapter 75

Chapter 75

075

Independence

The three parties entered the conference room, which had been transformed into a triangular table, with two assistant seats on either side of the main position.

Lancelot's side was occupied by his chamberlain and another unfamiliar figure. On Huai Wei's side, both seats were taken by unknown individuals. As for Chu Li... Ya Lan sat to his left, while Feng Yichen was on his right.

In front of Feng Yichen, a pile of documents was stacked high. Lancelot also had a similar pile, but instead of flipping through them, he passed them over to his chamberlain sitting beside him.

The chamberlain lifted his head, observing the serious atmosphere, and took a deep breath.

After a moment, a tall treeman walked in from outside. Chu Li glanced at him and found that he looked different from the one named Tagan they had encountered earlier.

Beside him, Ya Lan sighed, "No matter how many times I see them, I still can't tell them apart."

After some thought, Chu Li said, "I'd say her features are more delicate, so she's likely a girl."

Ya Lan: "Hm? Do tree spirits have a distinction between males and females?"

No sooner had she finished speaking when the tree spirit replied, "I am Tamir. As the presiding judge, I oversee your negotiation process. Alright, let's not waste time. Our negotiations shall commence now."

The negotiation was more down-to-earth than Chu Li had imagined. It began with both parties presenting their perspectives and intentions, followed by a sequence of rebuttals.

The discourse revolves around the central question of whether Lu Gang belongs to the empire.

Lukang is an artificial harbor, but the surrounding planets have existed naturally. The Expeditionary Force discovered these planets and negotiated their division from the Alliance. Currently, the planets are under Imperial jurisdiction, but Ya Lan has presented evidence that the indigenous inhabitants do not wish to belong to the Empire. They initially agreed to join out of necessity, but now, with alternative options, they seek to secede.

From the Empire's perspective, they separated Lukang from those planets, branding Jing Baiyuan as the leader of the Expeditionary Force who betrayed the Empire, making him a traitor. The Empire does not condone his attempt at independence.

The two parties debated this issue back and forth for numerous rounds, yet no resolution was reached as time ticked by.

Both sides were well aware of the situation, but neither was willing to budge, leading to this endless exchange.

They deliberated on this single matter for an entire day, until darkness fell and the negotiations concluded. Ya Lan's voice was strained, leaving her unable to utter a word.

Exiting the negotiation room, they didn't rush back but instead headed to the adjacent lounge. Chu Li brought a cup of warm water to Ya Lan and watched her drink it before he sighed helplessly, "I'll get you some throat lozenges when we get back."

He had anticipated this situation beforehand and made some preparations accordingly.

Little did he expect that it would happen on the very first day.

Ya Lan slumped onto the sofa, disregarding her image as she croaked in complaint, "I knew the Admiral assigned me here for a difficult task."

Upon hearing this, Chu Li felt immensely guilty, "Sorry, if only I understood these matters, I could've been of assistance..."

"Don't say that," Ya Lan shook her head. "Didn't you notice Lancelot also didn't speak? That's just how negotiations go."

Probably to alleviate Chu Li's worries, she sat up straight and smiled at him, "It's my job, so I'm just casually complaining. Don't take it to heart."

After resting for a while, they left the lounge, planning to return to their quarters.

However, upon reaching the main hall, they found Huai Wei still there, engrossed in his personal terminal at the entrance.

He seemed quite serious, with his brows knitted tightly.

Upon seeing this, Ya Lan promptly accessed her personal terminal and was indeed flooded with news – there had been another clash between Deer Harbor and Blue Vein Star.

The location of their encounter was rather intriguing, it occurred near Mu Jiji's planet, a place called Xi Ming Star, which was also an uninhabited planet.

Yet, this battle progressed at a leisurely pace, with talks of combat persisting without any decisive outcome.

The following day, the topic of negotiation shifted to the Western Star Continent, which was currently embroiled in war.

Lantelmos appeared significantly angrier than the day before. He accused Deerport of inconsistency, pointing out that yesterday they'd claimed to be part of a group of planets that had never been part of the Empire and whose native populations had no desire to join. Now, they were targeting Weststar, a planet that had always belonged to the Empire.

Today, Chu Li's delegate for external communication was Feng Yichen, whose demeanor was far more restrained than Ya Lan's. He stuck to the essentials.

Xixing Ming was an uninhabited planet, discovered during the expeditionary force's march – though that was during Jing Baiyuan's master's era.

Following that, he presented a joint declaration from 182 planets, expressing their intention to secede from the empire and form a new nation.

Of course, Lancelot would not consent to this. Disregarding the objections of his chamberlain, he flew into a rage during the negotiations.

The stalemate continued into the afternoon; the negotiation room became virtually silent, with only military intelligence officers entering repeatedly to report updates.

The Cosmic Tree Spirits took no sides unless absolutely necessary; they didn't even speak, as if they were mere mascots invited by the three parties.

On the third day, Lancelot found it hard to hold back. He repeatedly interrupted the chamberlain's speech, denouncing Jing Baiyuan Ting as a traitor to the empire. That day, it seemed Jing Baiyuan Ting had also escalated his tactics; within two hours of the negotiation, news came that two uninhabited planets had been seized.

Feng Yichen declared, "We have no intention of offending the empire. As the representatives of these 182 planets, the Expeditionary Force demands that the empire acknowledge our terms. We wish to secede and establish independence."

Lancelot, however, raged, "Secede from the empire? I may not know what's happening on those planets, but you, the Expeditionary Force, are traitors to the empire! You grew up under its protection, yet now you've allied with outsiders to attack and invade the empire!"

The term "outsiders" clearly referred to the Alliance.

These past few days, it was mainly Luguang and Lanwen Star who were bickering. Huai Wei wasn't some mascot for good or bad luck, but upon hearing this, he tapped the table unhappily.

For a moment, Feng Yichen was at a loss for words.

Both he and Ya Lan hailed from the original Empire, and while these 182 planets might not fall within the scope of Lancelot's wrath, they would certainly be affected.

They had no retort.

Lancelot sneered, "Why so silent now? Traitor to the empire."

"One cannot speak so definitively," Ya Lan sighed, stepping in when both he and Feng Yichen remained silent. "How can you be sure that the Empire isn't the traitor?"

"Children are naturally attached to their parents, but even parents can fail in their duties." Chu Li spoke calmly. "The Empire is like a parent, and if it neglects its children, that's one thing. But to go as far as trying to kill them... how can you blame the child for seeking survival elsewhere? Besides, the Emperor is just the Emperor, not the embodiment of the entire Empire or every person within it. Thus, breaking away from the Empire might be considered betrayal to the Emperor, but not to the Empire itself."

Chu Li smiled. "Betrayal of the Emperor... perhaps that term doesn't quite apply."

Lancelot was taken aback by Chu Li's intervention and frowned after a momentary pause. "What do you mean?"

"I don't mean anything particular," Chu Li replied. "I just think that one person cannot represent an entire Empire, and choosing not to stay under your leadership doesn't necessarily mean betrayal."

At this, Huai Wei chuckled. "Can't you see what the little beauty means? Jing Baiyuan is simply unwilling to listen to you. He has no grudge against the Empire; he merely disapproves of your actions as an Emperor... Hahaha, Jing Baiyuan didn't make any moves when your father was on the throne. As the Emperor, it's best to reflect on yourself more often."

As if to further escalate the tension, Huai Wei added with a peculiar tone, "Perhaps you should also consider your own shortcomings."

Huai Wei's words were like a scorching flame, leaving Lancelot speechless.

The eunuch standing nearby looked miserable. This Alliance Marshal truly had the audacity to speak his mind.

However, verbal sparring was temporary satisfaction; the true bargaining chips lay beyond Mu Jiji's planet.

Lancelot truly didn't wish for Deer Harbor to secede. Despite Jing Baiyuan and Huai Wei pressuring him together, he still refused to budge.

By the fourth day, the situation took a subtle turn.

The previous battles had only occurred between Deer Harbor and Blue Stripe Star, mostly over uninhabited planets. In interstellar warfare, unless it reached a certain scale, casualties were minimal as it mainly involved burning resources. This was why Lancelot hadn't given in; he believed that Blue Stripe Star had greater potential than Deer Harbor and could endure the pressure.

But on the fourth day, the Alliance stepped in.

It was clear that the Alliance was supporting Deer Harbor. With their involvement, the Empire's defeat became more apparent. What worried Lancelot even more was that Jing Baiyuan only sought independence. He wouldn't keep the planets he conquered but would use them as bargaining chips to negotiate for Deer Harbor's autonomy.

Yet, once the Alliance seized territories, they wouldn't return them!

The faster the battle reports arrived, the more anxious Lancelot grew. Every day, his gaze at Chu Li was filled with daggers, wishing to tear him apart with his eyes alone.

But no matter how furious he was, it couldn't change the fact that Jing Baiyuan, on the front lines, wouldn't hold back.

On the fifth day, Lancelot claimed he wasn't feeling well and requested a two-day pause in negotiations. The Galactic Court agreed, but before night fell, they received another message: the negotiations were urgent and shouldn't be delayed; they should resume the next day.

When Chu Li arrived at the central hall for the negotiation on the second day, he noticed that Huai Wei was missing.

Upon inquiry, it was learned that Huai Wei had left.

In his place was a deputy named Nie Xindi, whose appearance was incredibly amiable, with his eyes narrowing into slits when he smiled.

He informed the group, "The Marshal has more pressing matters to attend to."

Upon hearing this, Chu Li couldn't help but smile and remark, "That's what the Admiral said when he left too."

Indeed, there were always more important things to be done.

Only Lancelot remained bound by the ongoing negotiation.

Suddenly, Chu Li felt no longer rushed. If Lancelot continued to refuse to agree, they would simply fight their way to the Blue Stripe Star. Jing Baiyuan was adept at nothing else but warfare, it was in his nature.

Even Lancelot himself seemed unable to hold out any longer. Upon restarting the negotiations, he genuinely began considering the terms proposed by Deer Harbor.

However, there was disagreement over the exact number of planets to be claimed. A few planets still had unexploited reserves of Blue Blood Crystal Mines, and he was reluctant to let them go. He began to have his chamberlains cite ancient texts to prove that those planets belonged to the Empire.

Of course, Luguang was not in agreement with this, and both sides were deadlocked in a dispute over every tiny detail.

Finally, on the seventh day of negotiations, the specific details were finally agreed upon with mutual concessions. Lancelot and Chu Li, representing Blue Vein Star and Deerport respectively, signed and sealed the agreement under the support of the Interstellar Court.

Deerport was completely detached from the Empire, and the remaining 179 planets, large and small, formed an independent nation.

The Alliance also reaped significant benefits, taking away five uninhabited planets, two of which were rich in Blue Blood Crystal mines.

On the day the negotiation concluded, Jing Baiyuanting arrived at Mu Jiji Planet to fetch Chu Li back.

Lancelot was seething with hatred. He couldn't kill anyone in front of the Universe Tree Spirit, so he planned to intercept Chu Li after his departure from Mu Jiji Planet. Even if he couldn't alter the fact of Deerport's independence, he would teach Jing Baiyuanting a lesson!

To his surprise, Jing Baiyuanting was not willing to let Chu Li face any danger at all. On the very day the negotiations ended, he left the frontlines and personally came to retrieve him.

He had even brought the Expeditionary Force.

Once the Empire's most elite troops, Lancelot had no idea how Jing Baiyuanting managed them. All he knew was that this man spent all his days in Deerport, ignoring the existence of Blue Vein Star. The Expeditionary Force only respected Jing Baiyuanting's orders. Lancelot had made several attempts to infiltrate the force and dilute Jing Baiyuanting's influence, but all had failed.

Looking at the tall and straight figure, hatred filled Lancelot's eyes.

He should have killed him long ago!

Upon first sight of him, he should have killed him!

Men from their family... they all evoke such disgust! If not for Jing Fengcun, Bai Xian wouldn't have had the chance to hide the information; if not for Bai Yuanting... if not for Bai Yuanting!

---

Chu Li never expected Jing Baiyuan to come fetch him. The moment he saw him, he instinctively quickened his pace and threw himself into the man's arms.

Jing Baiyuan's expression was grave, with a coldness veiling his eyes. It wasn't until he enfolded Chu Li in his embrace that the frostiness dissipated, revealing the tenderness beneath.

He lowered his head to look at Chu Li and asked softly, "How do you feel?"

Chu Li smiled. "Everything is fine. I've fulfilled my mission."

Jing Baiyuan lowered his head and touched foreheads with Chu Li, whispering, "I knew you could do it."

After that, he lifted his gaze to look at Lancelot on the staircase.

Lancelot now appeared young, but upon closer inspection, one could easily discern the traces of weariness and age in his eyes.

Here, there were no cameras or other witnesses. Jing Baiyuan Ting said to Lancelot, "I've investigated. You killed your own son."

Instantly, the atmosphere turned frigid. Chu Li shivered as a cold breeze swept past. Jing Baiyuan Ting extended his strong arm, enfolding Chu Li in his embrace.

Lancelot's expression shifted in silence. The hatred that twisted deep in his eyes was impossible to conceal. After a long while, he sneered grotesquely, no longer bothering with pretense. He addressed Jing Baiyuan Ting, "Yes, not only did I kill him, but I also killed Bai Xian."

He admitted it outright.

Chu Li's pupils constricted, and he immediately turned to look at Jing Baiyuan Ting.

But Jing Baiyuan Ting didn't display the sorrow that Chu Li had expected. Instead, he seemed even more dominant, his aura radiating fiercely. He appeared like a razor-sharp blade, its edge impatient for blood, boiling with intense heat.

Silently, he gazed at the smug figure on the staircase. After a moment, he turned and left with Chu Li in tow.

It wasn't until they boarded the spacecraft that Jing Baiyuan Ting managed to detach himself from that tense emotion.

He didn't join Ya Lan and the others for the meeting but took Chu Li back to the warehouse, where they boarded the same warship they had used previously.

The two of them detached from the spacecraft, hurtling into the vast expanse of the universe.

During this time, Jing Baiyuan didn't speak a word, and Chu Li followed suit, silently accompanying him.

This time, Jing Baiyuan didn't stop at any location. Instead, he maneuvered the warship, swiftly darting through the darkness of space.

They soon reached the vicinity of an asteroid belt, surrounded by scattered meteoroids. Jing Baiyuan played a game of evasion, flying the warship right into the asteroid field.

The adrenaline rush from the high-speed flight was hundreds of times more intense than a roller coaster on a planet. Chu Li clung tightly to the handles on either side of his seat throughout the journey, watching in wide-eyed horror as meteoroids rapidly approached the window, only for the warship to swerve abruptly to avoid them.

Some collisions were inevitable, smashing into the outer protective mesh of the warship and creating terrifying blossoms of destruction.

It wasn't until they soared beyond the asteroid belt that Jing Baiyuan stopped. He turned his head and saw Chu Li sitting pale in his seat.

Startled, he said, "Sorry, I…."

But Chu Li interrupted him, "I'm fine, it was quite thrilling."

Jing Baiyuan paused.

He had so much he wanted to say, but perhaps it was Lancelot's previous words that weighed heavily on his heart, leaving all his words stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single one.

Chu Li smiled wryly, unfastened his seatbelt, and leaned toward Jing Baiyuanting.

Extending his hand, Jing Baiyuanting was taken aback, then tentatively lowered his head.

Chu Li ruffled his hair and tickled behind his earlobe.

The little cat always enjoyed having its ears scratched; when no one did, it would nuzzle its head over for attention.

Perhaps the big cat just wanted some affectionate stroking too.

Afterward, Chu Li said, "Everything's settled. Let's go home."

Jing Baiyuanting fell silent for a moment before responding, "Alright, let's go home."

He contacted Ya Lan, asking her to lead the others back while he piloted the warship with Chu Li, heading towards their home.

Without a jump point, reaching Deerport in a short time was challenging. They cruised through space like two lost travelers, taking their time.

The warship had basic food supplies, which sustained them during these days.

It wasn't until five days later that Jing Baiyuan found a dilapidated and abandoned jump point. After some simple repairs, they finally arrived at Deer Port.

Ya Lan had long since returned. Upon hearing the news of Jing Baiyuan's arrival, he rushed to the port to pick up the two of them.

Chu Li was sent back home, while Jing Baiyuan went to the base.

Due to lack of rest on the warship, upon returning home, Chu Li washed up and fell into bed, drifting off into a deep sleep.

In his drowsy state, he felt something small and furry nudging his arm. He rolled over, exposing his collar, and the little creature burrowed into his shirt, biting onto the collar with its mouth and kneading the bedding with its paws.

Chu Li: "…"

With a groggy voice, he muttered, "Little Key, don't play around..."

He scooped up the mischievous kitten and forced it to sleep with him.

After an unknown duration, Chu Li sensed someone leaning close to observe him. Warm breath brushed against his face. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw Jing Baiyuan's face.

Night had already fallen, and the room was unlit, but the man's eyes gleamed eerily. Stirred by his intense gaze, Chu Li woke up, confusedly propping himself up. "You... are back?"

"It's all taken care of," Jing Baiyuan embraced Chu Li, murmuring softly, "We'll convene a meeting tomorrow to propose a new name for Lugang... Little Li, we're going to have a home of our own."

It took Chu Li a moment to comprehend Jing Baiyuan's meaning, but a hint of joy shimmered in his eyes as he responded, "That's wonderful... Where do you plan to establish the capital?"

Jing Baiyuan said, "It's in Lukang."

"But Lu Gang is an artificial port... and quite small in size," Chu Li remarked.

Jing Baiyuanting, however, remarked, "But this is the home of the Expeditionary Force; we're different from the Empire. The Expeditionary Force stands at the heart of the nation. Nevertheless, there's always a certain disconnect between the military and civilians, which is why the capital must be situated here. Nonetheless, fear not, for in close proximity lies a vast and hospitable planet, well-suited for academic institutions, economic zones, and the like. Ya Lan and I have discussed the possibility of situating the government on that planet and incorporating it into the territory of Deer Harbor."

He spoke incessantly, covering topics ranging from future plans to matters concerning the two of them... Chu Li became lost in his words as he continued nonstop. With a helpless pat on his shoulder, he said, "Alright, alright, I got it... But can we discuss these tomorrow after sunrise? It's so late; do you intend to hold a mini-meeting with me right now?"

Reminded by Chu Li, Jing Baiyuan realized the inappropriateness of the timing.

He was indeed overly excited.

He had never been this agitated before.

Upon returning, he held an eight-hour meeting with all high-ranking officers of the Expeditionary Force. Even after the meeting, he still felt a sense of tranquility, yet an inexplicable urge to see Chu Li emerged.

Rejecting Ya Lan's suggestion to rest at the base, he drove home in the middle of the night.

Upon seeing Chu Li sleeping in bed, his emotions overflowed, resulting in his outpouring of words earlier.

However, reminded by Chu Li, he felt even more reluctant to disturb his rest and promptly got up to freshen up in the bathroom.

Maintaining his previous posture, Chu Li sat on the bed in a daze for a while. Eventually, excitement stirred within him, compelling him to get up and quietly approach the bathroom, pushing the door open.

Inside, Bai Yuanting was already undressed. Upon noticing Chu Li peeking through the crack, he stretched out his hand to pull the younger man inside.

Chu Li, clad in a fluffy pajama, tumbled into Jing Baiyuan's embrace. Jing Baiyuan held him back, moving them both under the showerhead without waiting for Chu Li's response before turning it on.

Soaked through, Chu Li struggled to escape but ended up being embraced by Jing Baiyuan instead.

He nestled his chin into the crook of Chu Li's neck and whispered softly in his ear, "Let me hold you for a little while... just for a little while..."

In the end, they took a shower together.

It was indeed just a shower; nothing more happened. Both were still basking in the joy of Lu Qili's recovery. They were too elated to think of anything else.

After taking a shower, Chu Li climbed into bed and leaned against Jing Baiyuan's embrace. He asked again, "What did you just say to me? Repeat what you said earlier."

Author's Note:

Today, I'm the one with an upset stomach;

Sorrowful and in abdominal pain (doggy pose).