Chapter 312: Farewell

Chapter 312 Parting

Jiang Qi was completely stunned, asking dazedly, "What?"

Ye Wang had already stepped halfway up the mining ship's boarding ladder, reaching out to Jiang Qi from a distance. "I'll fill you in later. Come up first."

—Last step now—he couldn't let the Imperial Star slip away; he had to pull him into the cabin.

The commander's hand was right before him. Jiang Qi stared fixedly at those slender fingers, paused for a moment, then raised his hand and placed it over Ye Wang's.

The moment their fingertips touched, he caught his breath.

Ye Wang didn't notice. He curled his fingers and then pulled Jiang Qi up with a slight tug.

Together, they stood on the mining ship's deck.

The commander explained, "The military’s onto you. You're not safe in the Empire. You’re better off going to the Federation. Turns out, I have a few friends from the Federation who are heading back soon. You can return with them. My friends will arrange an identity for you and look out for you."

Without waiting for Jiang Qi's reaction, he immediately pulled him along.

Jiang Qi stumbled from the sudden tug. "Sir! Wait—"

"No time to wait. Just come with me."

Even now, Ye Wang didn't let go. He held Jiang Qi firmly, whose fingertips burned, making it impossible to break free for the moment.

Step by step, he followed behind Ye Wang as the commander led him across the deck, past the bulkhead, around the rusted observation cabin, and into the ship's interior. Only then did Jiang Qi realize that this seemingly beat-up spaceship held unexpected luxury.

The front of the cabin had been converted into a living room, newly refurbished. Warm white light cast a soft glow from the ceiling, the walls painted a clean white, and the floor covered with a woven rug. In the center of the room stood a faux-antique electric fireplace, above which hung a massive high-definition screen. The surrounding furniture was uniformly made of walnut, and in the corner stood two large glass wine cabinets filled with many rare and expensive bottles.

At first glance, this place didn't resemble the interior of an old mining ship but rather that of a high-end cruise ship for vacation travel.

Colonel Bu Nian sat beside the wine cabinet, paging through an old thread-bound book.

Noticing their arrival, he glanced up slightly and nodded at Ye Wang.

This time, he didn't address him as "Major General."

Ye Wang's undercover operation was a top-secret mission of the Federation, known only to his close associates, Bu Nian, and a few high-ranking Federation officials. Until Jiang Qi passed the Federation's assessment, the details of the project would remain confidential to him.

Ye Wang said, "This is Bu Nian. He'll take you to the Federation. Bu Nian, this is Jiang Qi."

Bu Nian glanced up from the magazine, his gaze lingering on their intertwined hands. With a smile, he said, "Indeed, Mr. Jiang. During your journey to the Federation, I'll be temporarily taking care of you on behalf of this gentleman. Oh, your brother and sister, along with a large package of items sent by this gentleman, have all been set up in a room on the second floor."

"What?" Jiang Qi was dazed for a moment. Even in his most hopeful fantasies, he had never imagined an ending where he and his siblings could leave together. He almost wondered if he was hallucinating. "My what...?"

Before he could finish, Ye Wang tugged him away again.

The commander pulled him up to the second floor and stopped at the cabin at the end of the corridor. "I know you have a brother and sister. You yelled at me about it, remember?"

He was referring to the night of the lab raid when Ye Wang found Jiang Qi, battered and bruised, in the culvert. Back then, Jiang Qi had glared at him furiously, saying that while the Empire's elites lived in comfort, his sister was left to die in a leaky shack.

Ye Wang looked at Jiang Qi with amusement, smiling leisurely. "This room isn't drafty anymore, is it?"

"..."

Jiang Qi took a step back, lowering his head in apology, sheepish and guilty, appearing obedient and pitiful. "I'm sorry, sir."

Ye Wang found it amusing and sidestepped slightly. "I knew you wouldn't leave them behind, so I brought them along. Wanna see them?"

With that, he lifted his hand and knocked.

A soft, sugary voice called from inside: "Come in."

Jiang Qi went still.

Ever since stealing the lab’s drugs, Jiang Qi had never imagined he would hear his sister’s voice again.

Now, his sister was just beyond the door, yet separated by that thin barrier, Jiang Qi hesitated.

His hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitating, as if behind it was a fleeting dream—one that might vanish with the slightest push.

Ye Wang reached over, placing his hand over Jiang Qi’s.

Jiang Qi: "...Sir?"

As if seeking strength from him.

With steady pressure, Ye Wang guided his hand to turn the knob and pushed the door open, and pulled Jiang Qi in.

It was a beautiful room.

A two-bedroom suite with a small living space between them. Bu Nian had decorated one bedroom for the girl—soft and cozy, with a pink carpet covering the floor, a princess bed in the center, and colorful felt hangings above the headboard. Outside the window, only darkness—no sun in sight, but it was far better than the drafty home in District B13.

The injections had helped; the girl was doing better. Though she still couldn’t leave the bed, she could open her eyes and call sweetly for her brother.

Jiang Qi gazed at her soft, childlike face, his lips pressed tight, unable to speak for a moment.

Ye Wang grabbed a backpack from the living room—inside were candies bought just the day before. He scooped up a handful and passed them to Jiang Qi: "Give them to your sister."

Jiang Qi looked down, peeling the wrapper off one of the bright candies, and passed the fruit-flavored piece to her.

He hadn’t even noticed that, out of all the candies, he had instinctively chosen the strawberry one first—perhaps, in his subconscious, it was the best flavor.

Ye Wang got up and left, shutting the door quietly behind him to give the siblings their space.

Ten minutes later, the lock clicked—Jiang Qi emerged.

He stood before Ye Wang, hesitant, and murmured softly, "Sir..."

But after those two words, he fell silent again.

Ye Wang: "Your brother is here too, resting in another room. The doctors are working on fitting him with prosthetic eyes—they're doing preliminary tests now. You can go see him later."

"Mm..."

Ye Wang: "Anyway, this is the situation. Bu Nian will take you to the Federation. I’ve arranged for people there—Pang Su and Wen Muyuan. Once you land, they’ll meet you and handle your identity, job, and housing arrangements."

Before deciding to bring the Imperial Star back to the Federation, Ye Wang had already contacted his two unfortunate aides, dropping the bombshell without giving them any time to prepare: "I’m bringing the Imperial Star to the Federation. Make the arrangements."

The trio’s group chat had been quiet for a while, occupied with official matters. Ye Wang’s message sent shockwaves through the conversation.

Pang Su: "What Star?"

Wen Muyuan: "Imperial what?"

Ye Wang sighed in exasperation: "The Imperial Star—Jiang Qi. Do I have to draw you a map? He’ll be arriving at the Federation’s capital port in about two weeks. There are three people in total. Get him through the Federation’s citizenship screening, get his identity registered, and deduct housing expenses from my account first. Then ask if he wants to join the military—if he does, slot him straight into the Third Army."

"..."

"..."

Pang Su: "Hold up, boss, how did you manage to bring him back? Kidnapping?"

Wen Muyuan: "If he joins the Third Army, under what identity?"

Ye Wang @ Pang Su: "Kidnapping? Give me a break. He came back willingly, with me."

Ye Wang @ Wen Muyuan: "As a rookie, duh. He has no battle merits—even if he’s the Imperial Star, he’ll have to climb the ranks step by step."

Pang Su: "."

Wen Muyuan: "."

They had no choice but to accept it.

"Both Wen Muyuan and Pang Su were high-ranking officers of the Third Army. They knew exactly what procedures were needed for Federation citizenship."

After introducing his two deputies, Ye Wang turned back to Jiang Qi: "For the first three years after joining the Federation, you’ll be on probationary citizenship. After all, you’re from the Empire. But don’t worry—the Federation’s review won’t lock you in an observation room. You just need to cooperate with the staff."

His arrangements were so thorough, almost painstakingly considerate. In Jiang Qi’s life, no one had ever planned for him with such care. Caught between confusion and helplessness, he could only manage a feeble: "Thank you, sir."

Ye Wang thought to himself, *Save the thanks—just earn a few more merits for our Third Army later, and show those greenhorns who can’t hit the broad side of a barn how it’s done.*

Bu Nian’s voice came from outside the door: "We’re all set to move out."

Ye Wang gave Jiang Qi one last glance and smiled. "See you around."

He was ready to bail.

Next, he would rush to the blockade line, using Pei Gu’s credentials to clear the border. He wouldn’t be accompanying Jiang Qi any further.

The commander turned and was about to step away when Jiang Qi suddenly moved forward, urgency in his voice: "Sir—"

Ye Wang: "Hmm?"

Jiang Qi looked at him: "If I go to the Federation… what will happen to you?"

If the Empire truly investigated Jiang Qi’s disappearance and discovered Ye Wang had facilitated it, what would become of him?

Ye Wang chuckled. "Don’t sweat it. Not a problem."

*Pei Gu’s survival? Not Ye Wang’s problem. If he dies, even better.*

Yet Jiang Qi still stared at him, his gaze more serious than ever before: "Sir… will we meet again?"

Ye Wang turned back to meet his eyes, equally solemn. "Count on it."

In the Third Army. In the distant star systems of the Federation. In Ye Wang’s homeland.

The commander would reunite with Jiang Qi under his true face—with an identity a hell of a lot prouder than Pei Gu could ever be.

Ye Wang took off.

Jiang Qi watched his back as he walked away, his strides vanishing into the depths of the mining ship before hopping down and disappearing into the boundless wilderness. Finally, the ship hidden in the reeds ignited its thrusters, leaving a glowing blue streak as it streaked across the sky like a shooting star.

Bu Nian also watched Ye Wang leave before turning his gaze to the tight-lipped "Imperial Star," tsked twice under his breath, amused.

*Their Federation’s hotshot general really had managed to snag the Empire’s human weapon for himself.*

Bu Nian set down the magazine, picked up the communicator, and his detached tone echoed through the cabin:

"All departments, prepare for launch countdown."

"Fueling complete."

"Engine room inspection complete."

"Boosters activated."

"Course plotted."

As the commands echoed through the ship, the vessel's bulk slowly lifted before heading into the distance.

They made a brief stop at the checkpoint, where the guards didn't give them any trouble and simply let them pass. Through the thick glass of the porthole, beside the patrol team, Jiang Qi caught sight of Ye Wang once more.

*

The commander removed his military cap and gave him a smile from afar.

An hour later, Ye Wang returned home.

He turned on the lights alone—no sparring partner to mess with, leaving the house feeling empty. The fridge held a few cartons of milk, so Ye Wang grabbed a saucepan and heated some for himself.

Nursing his milk, he lounged on the sofa and scrolled through his messages.

The first was from the military department, demanding the return of weapons—Ye Wang dismissed it without a second thought. The second was from the archives, questioning why he had accessed certain files—again, dismissed. The last was from the surveillance office, flagging Jiang Qi's suspicious activity and requesting Major General Pei Gu's cooperation in the investigation.

Ye Wang raised his hand and typed four words in response: "Request denied."