Chapter 78

Chapter 78

078

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While on his way to find Jing Baiyuan, Chu Li received another message with a new location. He realized the severity of the situation – it was either a stalker playing mind games or someone urgently trying to contact him.

He quickened his pace and soon arrived at the grand hall. The guests were still absorbed in the lively atmosphere of the engagement party. Upon seeing Chu Li, they teased him, "Here comes our Admiral's wife!" "Come, come, have a drink!"

Chu Li smiled at them and turned towards Jing Baiyuan. Seeing that he ignored their jests and went straight for Jing Baiyuan, everyone burst into laughter.

The teasing grew louder, and Chu Li, who had initially approached with a serious matter, couldn't help but chuckle. He glanced at them and said, "I need to borrow your Admiral for a moment."

The others roared with laughter, "Not at all, not at all, he's yours, hahaha..."

Jing Baiyuan had already consumed quite a bit of alcohol. Despite his good tolerance, the joy of the day had made him less restrained, and he was well on his way to intoxication.

As Chu Li pulled on him, Jing Baiyuan stumbled, leaning heavily against Chu Li. His voice was deep and husky, "What's going on?"

Chu Li's ears tingled from the depth of Jing Baiyuan's voice. He instinctively rubbed them and tugged at Jing Baiyuan's sleeve, whispering softly, "I have something to attend to. Come with me."

These words were overheard by Ya Lan, who was sitting beside them. She looked as if she was about to faint from lack of breath.

Unable to contain himself, Chu Li said, "I have something important to discuss with him! Don't let your minds wander."

Ya Lan had merely witnessed her favorite couple come to life before her eyes; she wasn't pondering anything inappropriate. Upon hearing Chu Li's remark, she instead wore an exaggerated smile.

The others laughed along.

What a classic case of protesting too much.

Chu Li's face turned even redder as he pulled Jing Baiyuan Ting away.

They arrived at an empty corridor. Jing Baiyuan Ting felt a burning sensation within him that wouldn't subside. He couldn't resist loosening his tie and wrapping his arm around Chu Li.

Just as he leaned in for a kiss, Chu Li slapped him across the face. It was then that Jing Baiyuan Ting noticed Chu Li's personal terminal was on, with his gaze fixed elsewhere.

His excitement and heightened arousal had dulled his senses, making him realize belatedly that Chu Li truly had something to discuss. He composed himself slightly and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Chu Li showed him the message he had received. Jing Baiyuan Ting glanced at it, and his expression suddenly turned grave. He tilted the terminal towards himself and said, "This seems to be a star coordinate."

He switched to the interstellar map instead, selecting a spot and zooming in repeatedly. There was an abandoned star jump point there.

"Is there anything special about this place?" Chu Li inquired.

Jing Baiyuan, however, was staring blankly at the jump point. Suddenly, he recalled something from a very, very long time ago.

Back then, both his parents were still alive. They were high-ranking researchers for the Empire, working in the same research group. They were often busy, even participating in classified projects that kept them away from home for months at a time. Jing Baiyuan didn't feel lonely due to their absence, because before they left, they would leave him a puzzle. Once solved, it usually revealed a coordinate.

Jing Baiyuan would then travel to that location alone, and more often than not, his parents would already be waiting for him when he arrived.

He never knew how they managed it, but every time, they would appear.

This transformed the concept of separation into an intriguing puzzle for Jing Baiyuan. He understood that his parents' departures didn't equate to loneliness or solitude; they were merely temporary separations leading to better reunions in the future.

"Yuanting?" Chu Li's voice brought Jing Baiyuan back to the present, reminding him of just how long it had been since those times.

His father had already died under Lancelot's persecution, and his mother...

But if his mother was dead, who sent him the coordinates?

A hint of hesitation flickered in Jing Baiyuan's eyes.

Chu Li asked, "Is there something wrong with this jump point?"

Jing Baiyuan revealed their family tradition, "This is an agreement between my parents and me. If I pass through, I'll meet them, but I have no idea... what's the story behind this coordinate. My father passed away early, and my mother also... who told them about this?"

Chu Li's brow twitched. "But what if..."

What if it wasn't someone else who informed them, but the person themselves?

For a moment, both fell silent.

Chu Li suggested, "Let's go take a look."

---

The damaged jump point was devoid of power, with only one side of its solar panels absorbing starlight from one direction to provide the shattered jump point with its last vestiges of energy.

This jump point was constructed a decade into humanity's interstellar migration as a temporary one. It had a spherical shape, resembling a tiny planet, but its interior was entirely mechanized. On the surface of this planet-like structure, there was an entrance.

The entrance had already been unsealed, and both Wen Renjian and Bai Xian were inside. Bai Xian was nestled amidst the intricate machinery, holding a flashlight and meticulously inspecting each component.

After a long while, Bai Xian took a deep breath and said, "It's no good. The harmonization device is broken, and we don't have any replacement parts."

Having said that, Wen Renjian fell silent, and a sense of solitude pervaded the air between them, suffocating and oppressive.

Their whereabouts have been compromised; escape through the jump point is no longer an option, and capture seems imminent. A distress signal has been dispatched, but the distance to Lukang is substantial, making it highly unlikely for Jing Baiyuan and Yuanting to arrive in time to offer assistance.

Bai Xian fell silent for a moment before suddenly remarking, "Perhaps this is fate. Back then, when you advised me against participating in the Empire's Sunset Afterglow research project, I didn't heed your counsel. I said that immortality would upend the current human societal ethics, and that even if the experiment succeeded, there would be consequences in the future."

"It wasn't your fault." Recalling the events of the past, Wen Renjian let out a long sigh. "It's pointless to talk about it now. Let's not dwell on it."

Bai Xian fell silent, curling up into a corner.

After a while, some noise came from outside. Bai Xian trembled in response. Seeing this, Wen Renjian stood up. "I'll go take a look."

Bai Xian knew that Lancelot's people had likely caught up to them.

Her face paled slightly, and she also got up. "I'll come with you."

No matter what lay outside, they had to confront it eventually.

If they were truly captured, Lancelot would undoubtedly confine them completely. His medicine was about to expire... After that date, his aging process would accelerate rapidly, making it impossible for him to disguise himself in public.

If he could endure and preserve his son's life, he might still be able to push his son forward as a substitute once his aged appearance became apparent. But now, with the real Lancelot passing away under the guise of Augustus, their last chance at disguise was lost.

"This time, his methods won't be so gentle," Bai Xian shuddered, a thought crossing her mind.

"Don't be afraid, child, don't be afraid," Wen Renjian's heart ached. If not for the proposal he had made back then, Augustus's greed wouldn't have been triggered...

"Let's go." Together, they stepped out of the basement beneath the jump point. The artificial planet's gravitational system had largely ceased functioning, resulting in gravity significantly lighter than the standard on Blue Stripe Star, where humans commonly resided.

The surface was pockmarked with craters and scattered meteorites. Wen Renjian and Bai Xian walked slowly, knowing there was nowhere left to escape. They chose to face their destiny head-on.

But as they rounded a massive ground structure, the figure on the other side left them stunned.

A tall man stood with his back to them, dressed in deep green military attire. Before him loomed a giant searchlight, its intense beam outlining his sturdy, upright silhouette, like a silent mountain that weighed heavily upon their hearts.

Bai Xian: "..."

All her sounds were trapped in her throat, yet some still managed to leak out.

Jing Baiyuan Ting caught this faint movement and immediately turned his head.

After so many years, the mother and son finally met face to face for real.

...

Jing Baiyuan Ting silently observed the woman before him. Due to the effects of the medication, she appeared even younger than he remembered. Standing together, Bai Xian looked even younger than Jing Baiyuan Ting.

Suddenly feeling ashamed, Bai Xian hastily retreated, instinctively wanting to escape.

Jing Baiyuan Ting seemed fully grown, his body fully developed, exuding an aura of an adult man's sternness and presence that made Bai Xian hesitant to approach and acknowledge him.

Just then, a softer and gentler voice came from behind Jing Baiyuan Ting, "Mom?"

With that call, both Jing Baiyuan Ting and Bai Xian froze.

The rigid barrier between the mother and son who dared not acknowledge each other seemed to crumble. The person behind Jing Baiyuan Ting nudged him, saying, "Go on, quickly."

Jing Baiyuan finally took a step forward and softly called out, "Mom."

With his movement, the person standing behind him was revealed.

Chu Li was right behind him. Due to their hasty departure, Chu Li only had time to grab a casual outfit, one he often wore to the military medical department – comfortable but not formal enough for an occasion like this.

He was meeting his boyfriend's mother for the first time dressed like this.

He felt a little embarrassed.

But Bai Xian didn't resemble Bai Yuan Ting at all, so there was no way to tell they were related.

Chu Li let out a small sigh of relief. It didn't matter; this meeting wasn't too formal anyway. He shouldn't dwell on such details.

Bai Xian's gaze fell entirely on Chu Li. She was so engrossed that she didn't even have time to speak with Jing Baiyuan before asking, "Is he...?"

Jing Baiyuan replied, "His name is Chu Li. He is... my lover."

Chu Li obediently stepped forward, but the courage he had just mustered to call Bai Xian 'mom' vanished. He became nervously flustered, unsure what to do with his hands or feet.

Bai Xian, however, reached out to him as if afraid of startling him, and whispered softly, "What did you just call me?"

Chu Li paused but still spoke up, "M-Mom—"

Accompanying his voice was the distant roar of engines!! Immediately after, the ground beneath their feet trembled! Bright light rushed towards them from afar, exploding loudly beside everyone!

In that instant, Bai Xian instinctively crouched down, while Jing Baiyuan Yuanting swiftly turned around, pressing Chu Li's head down, protecting him beneath his body. The two of them crouched on the ground together.

After the explosion, a humming sound echoed—it wasn't really a sound, more like a synchronized vibration. Even without using their ears, the 'humming' seeped into their skin through the pores.

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting lifted his head to look into the distance. A glint of severity flashed in his emerald-green eyes, "They've arrived."

With that, he pulled Chu Li up and glanced at Bai Xian nearby before quickly leading Chu Li to her side. "Where did you come out from?"

Wen Renjian also crouched beside Bai Xian and promptly answered, "There's a machinery room down there!"

Jing Baiyuan Yuanting pushed Chu Li toward Bai Xian, "Go there!"

Bai Xian hastily pulled Chu Li along. The three of them darted into the adjacent machinery room. Explosions continued to sound one after another, but Jing Baiyuan Yuanting braved the blasts and swiftly made his way back to the warship they had come from.

He didn't come alone; he had anticipated Lancelot's pursuit of Bai Xian and thus brought the expedition force along.

Chu Li, however, was still a little concerned about Jing Baiyuan. After he left, he couldn't help but glance outside. Bai Xian leaned against the wall, feeling the vibrations from the explosions outside while stealing glances at Chu Li.

Chu Li soon realized that Jing Baiyuan was no longer in his line of sight. To avoid disrupting him and to protect himself, he returned to the mechanical room and closed the door behind him.

The jump point was heavily fortified, capable of withstanding small meteorite impacts. In comparison, the underground mechanical room was relatively safer.

Since there was no way out anyway, he might as well trust Jing Baiyuan.

Only then did Chu Li divert his attention to the other person present. Wen Renjian looked much older after just a few months apart. Chu Li sighed and said, "Teacher, it's been a long time."

Wen Renjian sighed in response. "I'm sorry, Xiaoli. I've dragged you into this mess."

Chu Li knew he was referring to the data and shook his head. "It's not a burden."

Turning to Bai Xian, Wen Renjian continued, "After you left, I hid the data. Although the experiments were still ongoing, I lied about the progress. I told Augustus that the experiment was difficult and unlikely to succeed... He might have already suspected something, but without any alternatives, he didn't force me. Instead, he deceived me into continuing to work for him."

"Recently, I realized something was amiss, so I passed the data to Xiaoli before fleeing..."

Wen Renjian apologized to Chu Li, "I'm sorry. After I learned about your relationship with Jing Baiyuan, I handed over the information to you. I just thought that if I were captured by accident, these documents shouldn't fall into Augustus's hands... That's why I gave them to you. I didn't expect it would make you a target for capture."

Chu Li smiled. "It's alright, Teacher. I was planning to leave that place anyway... But I've already destroyed those documents. Is that okay?"

Wen Renjian shook his head. "In this world, besides Augustus, no one else is obsessed with such a twisted form of eternal life."

Chu Li glanced at Bai Xian beside him, understanding that Wen Renjian was likely referring to her as the student he mentioned.

Perhaps because she appeared too young, Chu Li felt an illusionary sensation when facing her. He didn't see Bai Xian as Jing Baiyuan's mother but rather as Zhan Jiaqing or Liu Wei.

Bai Xian had been in a daze under the influence of drugs for over two decades. During that time, although she was alive, it felt like a hazy dream to her.

In her memory, her son was still an eight-year-old boy, and her husband was still around... She couldn't accept the reality of her current self. Noticing Chu Li's unease, Bai Xian smiled. "You're also a student of Teacher's, right? Treat me as your senior classmate."

---

Outside the mechanical room, Jing Baiyuan quickly boarded the warship, summoning the other expedition troops following behind. A swarm of warships and mechas surrounded the entire jump point, adopting a protective stance.

Opposite them, rows of silver-white mechas appeared before their eyes.

Jing Baiyuan's war channel received a video call request. After accepting it, Lancelot's face appeared on the screen.

His eyes were bloodshot, his expression fierce, "Jing Baiyuan, don't overstep your bounds! This jump point is part of my empire's territory! What you're doing is an infringement on our nation!"

Bai Yuan watched Lancelot's bared fangs in silence.

Suddenly, Lancelot sneered maliciously, "You rushed here in such haste. Could it be that you received some information?"

Jing Baiyuan remained silent, and Lancelot began talking to himself, his mental state appearing unstable. He stood up from his chair and paced back and forth in the room, "You must have received news to come rushing here... Knowing very well that this is my empire's land, yet you still trespassed... Are you trying to save her?"

He suddenly leaned close to the camera, his eyes fixed intently on Jing Baiyuan, a wicked smile curving at the corners of his mouth, "Are you sure? You're already a traitor to the Empire. It was my magnanimity that I signed the independence agreement. Do you know what they're saying about you in the Empire? They call you a traitor, someone who grew up fed by the Empire! The Empire spent money and resources to groom you into their finest soldier, yet you betrayed your homeland..."

"Ha ha ha... How much they once admired you, idolizing you like a bright moon or shining star. Now, in their hearts, you're not even worth a speck of dirt! With your reputation in such disarray, why not cherish it? Think carefully, your previous disagreements with the Empire could be seen as a desire for independence. They could still find ways to clear your name... But if you invade my nation after I've already signed the independence agreement, you won't just be a traitor. You'll be an invader! A villain!"

He spoke freely, as if these words alleviated his inner anxiety, as if he derived pleasure from Jingjing's suffering at Crystal Hundred Garden.

However, he didn't anticipate Jing Baiyuan's response after all that, "Do as you please."

"What?" Lancelot paused.

Jing Baiyuan said, "I don't indulge in flowery words, but it's up to you. If you want to perceive me as a traitor, then so be it. If you think of me as a sinner, I'll take on that role...

"But there's one thing I won't give up on: protecting my home and my family."

After my death, let the world drown in chaos.

With a command from Jing Baiyuan, he cut short the absurd conversation.

"FIRE!"

---

On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the first year of Qian Yun, during the engagement ceremony of Admiral Qian Yun, who concurrently served as the interim head, Jing Baiyuan, with his lover, conflict once again erupted between Qian Yun and the Empire.

The clash took place at an abandoned jump point. Later, Jing Baiyuan stationed troops there, effectively claiming ownership of the jump point for himself.

In hindsight, when people evaluated Jing Baiyuan, they all agreed that he was a valiant warrior throughout his life, but made one foolish decision: instigating the conflict between Qian Yun and the Empire. Despite later analyses, no one could truly grasp why Jing Baiyuan insisted on seizing that defunct jump point.

Some argued that although Jing Baiyuan appeared upright in his actions, it was merely a facade. In reality, he was a highly ambitious politician and military strategist, otherwise, he wouldn't have provoked war during a time of peace.

Later, when the empire fell, his actions had contributed to its demise.

Others commented that Jing Baiyuan was no fool; if he truly intended to provoke a war, he should have chosen a fertile and prosperous region, not a worthless jump point with no value in maintenance. Why would he bother seizing it?

Yet, at this moment, Jing Baiyuan himself was resolute in his actions, his resolve unshaken.

Despite Lancelot's many words, none of them had pierced through his heart.

Perhaps he had once been uncertain, but his conversation with Chu Li had solidified his resolve.

As long as Chu Li was by his side, he would never be lost or fearful.

Frustrated to the point of madness, Lancelot was powerless to stop Jing Baiyuan from bringing the pair back to Deer Harbor.

Jing Baiyuan had abruptly left the engagement party and returned with two strangers, a man who seemed elderly and a young woman. They appeared to be father and daughter.

Instantly, the way people looked at Jing Baiyuan changed.

It wasn't without reason that they jumped to conclusions. After all, Jing Baiyuan's demeanor toward the woman was peculiar, his tone gentle and soft – something they had only seen him use with Chu Li!

As the subordinates of the Expeditionary Force hazarded guesses, Chu Li stood by, listening. When Hong Feng couldn't help but pull him aside to inquire about Bai Xian's identity in an awkward tone, Chu Li was taken aback and then burst into laughter.

The situation was too bizarre; he couldn't stop laughing. Hong Feng looked at him in shock, thinking, Oh no, Chu Li has been driven mad!

Chu Li didn't want them to misunderstand for too long... so he managed to stifle his laughter and said, "That's Yuanting's mother."

"Huh?" Hong Feng turned back, glancing between Bai Xian, Jing Baiyuan, and Bai Xian again. After a moment, he said, "I'd believe you if you said the Marshal was his father, but I don't believe that she's the Marshal's mother."

Considering what Bai Xian might have gone through, Chu Li's brows furrowed slightly with intrigue. He sighed softly and said, "This story is complicated. In short, everyone had a hard time. Let him spend some time with his mother. Don't disturb them."

Jing Baiyuan's time was limited, so it should be reserved for this long-separated mother and son.

---

However, the atmosphere inside the room was far from the warm reunion Chu Li had imagined. Jing Baiyuan and Bai Xian sat facing each other in silence.

Bai Xian simply studied the person before her. The brows were familiar, but she didn't resemble either Bai Xian or Jing Fengcun. She and Jing Fengcun came from a typical scholarly family, both having reserved and introverted personalities.

In contrast, Jing Baiyuan might not exude an overtly sharp edge, but a weapon that could harm was still a weapon. Even if his demeanor was restrained, there was an intimidating aura of lethality about him.

Bai Xian and Jing Fengcun were refined scholars, while Jing Baiyuan, despite his composure, was a blade meant to take lives.

But Bai Xian knew in her heart that his transformation was a result of his parents' absence.

How could a young child survive on their own? They could only hone themselves into a hard and sharp tool.

She lowered her eyes gently and whispered, "I'm sorry, little Yuanting... Though saying this now doesn't change anything."