Chapter 6: Pei Du’s Identity

Chapter 6: Pei Du's True Identity

Pei Du and his companions had crash-landed on Planet 207 after their airship hit unexpected turbulence.

By the time the original host found him, the wreckage of the airship had already been stripped bare by other residents, and even the valuables on Pei Du and his companions, including their clothes, had been looted.

When the original host saw that not even a scrap of metal remained, he muttered a curse at his bad luck and was about to turn and leave when a hand grabbed his pant leg.

And so he took the sole survivor, Pei Du, home with him.

Someone must have seen him do it, or Uncle Tian wouldn't be asking like this.

Chu Lanting nodded. "I came by today to ask about him."

"Ah, what's there to ask? I'd advise you to send him right back to wherever he came from. You know A-Lian next door? She picked up something from that airship that day too. Guess what?"

Seeing Uncle Tian get all worked up, Chu Lanting tightened his grip on the cup and frowned, puzzled. "What happened?"

"That airship came from the capital planet! I can't make out the insignia on it, but it's definitely from the capital planet. What if it brings trouble down on us?"

Hearing that the airship Pei Du had ridden came from the capital planet, the first thought that flashed through Chu Lanting's mind wasn't surprise—it was "I knew it."

As the male lead, how could Pei Du's background be ordinary?

The capital planet was also known as the Imperial Star. Uncle Tian went on and on, saying the capital planet had great resources, and that nobles and the royal family all lived there.

He also said that even nobles from other planets who made it to the Imperial Star would be kicked out after a while if they didn't have permanent residency.

He described the capital planet like a paradise, his wrinkled face full of longing.

Seeing that he'd finally talked himself out and taken a sip of water, Chu Lanting took the chance to ask, "Have you been to the capital planet?"

Uncle Tian's face froze, then he turned his head and shot him a glare. "How could I? Planet 207 is so poor we don't even have a rail connecting to the neighboring planet, let alone a route to the capital planet."

"Then how do you know about it—"

"TV. 207's poor, but the neighboring planet's got a bit of money. Occasionally, when the two planets swing close to each other, Old He's TV can pick up a signal."

But the two planets didn't come close often—if they got within range for a month every few years, that was already considered lucky.

The stuff Uncle Tian knew about the capital planet, he'd also seen on that old TV at Old He's place years ago.

What the capital planet had become by now, probably no one on Planet 207 knew.

Chu Lanting planned to try his luck at Old He's place later if he had time.

Pei Du's identity was anything but simple. If he could watch TV, he might even catch a missing person notice about Pei Du.

As for how to send him back afterward, he'd need to figure something out.

Dropping the topic of Pei Du's identity, Chu Lanting stated the purpose of his visit: "Do you have any anti-inflammatories or painkillers? I can pay for them."

Uncle Tian's place was the only hospital for miles around—though calling it a hospital was a stretch; it was really just a small clinic.

Rumor had it that Uncle Tian met his wife back in the day, and the two fell in love fast.

But because his wife was from the slums, he'd brought her here against all odds and opened the only small clinic around.

Uncle Tian was a free-spirited guy with a sharp mind. For minor aches and pains, a simple treatment would do the trick.

He had painkillers too, but anti-inflammatories...

"Did you hear what I said? That man you brought home is nothing but trouble. Get rid of him as soon as possible. You're wasting medicine and money on him. All his buddies are dead—how much longer can he last?"

It wasn't that Uncle Tian was just being negative.

With all his companions on the airship dead, Pei Du had to be badly hurt too.

A whole airship full of people had gone through a spacetime turbulence. If everyone died, then when people came looking, they'd be able to avoid trouble.

But Chu Lanting had brought the man home. What if he turned out to be a handful?

Those nobles and royals from the capital planet were no joke.

He was only giving this advice out of goodwill because Chu Lanting was usually well-behaved, would stop by his place, and help him clean up.

"He's still alive, and he's already woken up. I checked his body—aside from the bigger wounds, the others have already started to scab over and heal."

"Uncle Tian, do you know what spiritual power is? If spiritual power goes bad, can it damage the brain and cause memory loss?"

Chu Lanting looked dead serious when he said this.

The words Uncle Tian had on the tip of his tongue—telling him to get rid of the man fast—got swallowed back down.

Hearing him mention spiritual power, Uncle Tian's face instantly turned serious. "Did that man tell you that?"

Chu Lanting shook his head. "He's lost his memory. He doesn't remember a thing."

"Spiritual power is... uh, let me think. This thing usually shows up in the military. In other words, someone with spiritual power who joins the military can at least become an officer."

"In recent years, the bug swarms have been running wild. Only humans with strong spiritual power can pilot mech weapons and fight the bug race."

So Pei Du was a member of the capital planet's military. And with the protagonist's halo, Pei Du's rank could only be high, not low.

Chu Lanting nodded, took a sip of water, then looked up again. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips on his fair, handsome face. "Thanks, Uncle Tian. I get it."

"How much for the painkillers and anti-inflammatories?"

Uncle Tian: "..."

"Hey! You stubborn brat, why won't you listen? I told you he's trouble—big trouble! When the people from the capital planet come looking, and they pin some made-up crime on you, see where you go crying then?"

"How about I come cry on your doorstep?"

Uncle Tian: "..."

Anti-inflammatories were a rare commodity on Planet 207. Even Uncle Tian only had two boxes.

Chu Lanting asked for one box of anti-inflammatories and a small amount of painkillers. Just as he was about to pull out the paper bills from his pocket, a strong hand pressed down on his.

"I won't charge you. You've done so much work for me over the years—consider this your pay. Take the medicine and get going. And I'm telling you, when that big trouble gets his memory back and contacts the people from the capital planet, don't come crying to me."

"I've still got a wife and kids to think about."

Chu Lanting didn't refuse. Only as he was heading out the door did he quickly turn his head and call out "Uncle Tian," then pulled out some of the paper bills from his pocket and tossed them into the room.

Before Uncle Tian had a chance to react, he turned and ran.

His soft hair, slightly yellowed from malnutrition, swayed with his movements, and the sunlight above cast a golden glow over him.

He came across a bakery on the street and spent most of the money he had brought before heading back home.

The sky had not yet darkened. As he pushed open the door and saw the young man sitting obediently on the bed waiting for him, his pale fingers clenched around the door handle.

"Babe, you're home!"