Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 80

Ling Xiao nervously stood outside the door, unsure of where to place his hands. He kept adjusting his uniform and constantly asked Ying Feng if anything about his appearance was amiss.

Ying Feng found his anxiety a bit exaggerated. “Are you really this nervous?”

Ling Xiao didn’t understand Ying Feng’s calmness. After all, they were about to meet the Marshal, the highest-ranking officer in the military. In the military inclined Tianxiu, the Marshal’s position was akin to a president’s. Wasn’t he, a freshman at the military academy, allowed to be nervous about meeting such an important figure?

Under the guidance of an officer, they finally stood before the Marshal. Though Ling Xiao had only seen him from afar in media broadcasts or during ceremonies, up close, the Marshal was imposing and dignified, demanding respect from all who met him.

“Greetings, Marshal!” Ling Xiao saluted sharply.

Although the Marshal had a stern expression, those familiar with him could tell he was in a good mood.

“You two have performed exceptionally,” he began. “Whether it was your response to emergencies, your bravery in facing greater numbers, or your sense of duty in protecting the fledglings, your actions were commendable. On behalf of the military, I thank you for your outstanding contributions and am proud that the military has talents like you.”

The Marshal took a medal from an aide and solemnly pinned it on Ling Xiao. “It has been many years since this Medal of Outstanding Contribution was awarded to someone outside the active military. Congratulations on this honor.”

There was applause. Ling Xiao saluted again, gratefully saying, “Thank you, Marshal!”

Then, he watched as the Marshal similarly decorated Ying Feng. The pride he felt seeing this was even greater than his own recognition.

Compared to Ling Xiao, Ying Feng was much calmer. He offered a standard salute and then shook hands with the Marshal, displaying both respect and confidence. The Marshal silently approved. Leadership qualities often manifest at a young age, and this young man undoubtedly had that potential.

Many officers were present, some familiar from the media and some whose reputations preceded them. Fu Yao wore his usual enigmatic expression, and Long Yin pretended not to recognize them from the moment they entered.

After the award ceremony, many came to offer their congratulations, soon followed by questions related to the Eagle. The military had been chasing Tai Yin for years, always eluded by their cunningness. Ling Xiao and Ying Feng were the only ones who had infiltrated the enemy, possessing information even the military didn’t have.

Ying Feng shared all the intel he gathered from the Eagle, including the number of enemies, ship configurations, and weaponry. Listening, Ling Xiao realized that while he was distracted by Fei Jing, Ying Feng had been observing and memorizing so much.

The award ceremony turned into a strategy discussion until the Marshal intervened, dismissing those not directly involved and leaving only Ying Feng and Ling Xiao.

“Marshal, do you need anything else from us?” Ling Xiao asked.

“Not from me,” the Marshal replied, “but someone else wants to meet you.” He clapped his hands, signaling someone to enter.

The man looked familiar. Some people had an innate ability to exude warmth. From the moment he entered, Ling Xiao couldn’t take his eyes off him, as if drawn by a magnetic force.

“Hello,” the man greeted with a smile.

“Hello,” Ling Xiao replied, slightly confused. “Have I met you somewhere?”

The man chuckled. “I’m the Marshal’s Qizi. You might be more familiar with my other identity.”

“Another identity?”

“He’s the current head bishop of the church. We saw him in the cathedral’s corridor.”

Ying Feng’s words jogged Ling Xiao’s memory. Even though they didn’t follow the church, the bishop’s image was everywhere.

Wait! The head bishop, the Marshal’s Qizi? Ling Xiao blurted out, “Aren’t the church and the military opposed?”

Ying Feng nudged him with an elbow, realizing his blunder. But the bishop seemed unperturbed and explained with a smile, “Do you have misconceptions about the church? We’re not against the military. They protect us and our nation. How could we oppose them? We just have differing viewpoints on certain issues and are always seeking alignment.”

Ling Xiao stealthily glanced at the Marshal. Was it okay for him to openly express different military positions in front of his Qizhu? Yet, the Marshal seemed to take it in stride, as if it would have been strange if the bishop hadn’t spoken up.

“Your name is Ling Xiao, right?” The bishop gazed at him gently. “I used to know a child with the surname Ling who was as kind-hearted as you.”

“Was it Ling Xing?” Thinking of anyone related to the church with the name Ling, Ling Xiao immediately thought of that name.

The bishop was taken aback. “You know him?”

Ling Xiao hesitated. “We emerged from the same energy pod. I’ve heard of him.”

The bishop gazed at him for a while and sighed. “It’s a pity he left at such a young age. If he were reincarnated, he would have been of age to awaken.”

The Marshal placed a hand on the bishop’s shoulder, signaling him to change the topic, and the bishop adjusted his emotions promptly. “Earlier, the Marshal expressed the military’s gratitude to you both. I’d also like to express the church’s gratitude. Despite the combined efforts of the military and the church over the years, we couldn’t save him. Yet you succeeded.”

“The population of Tianxiu has shrunk by 40% compared to the founding era. Regardless of whether we want to admit it, due to wars and various accidents, our race is continually declining. If there’s no turnaround, we’re doomed to extinction. In this context, every fledgling is precious. So, you didn’t just save a hostage; you saved a soul, which is a massive contribution to the entire nation.”

“It’s our duty,” Ling Xiao said with pride.

“Sorry for the long talk. Actually, someone else wanted to thank you in person.” He stepped aside, revealing a shy-looking fledgling behind him. Even though he looked like a child, Ling Xiao knew he’d awakened much earlier than him, having been a fledgling for over three decades. “Come, Shang Yang, didn’t you have something to say to them? Don’t be shy,” the bishop encouraged.

Shang Yang hesitated several times before speaking, and the bishop explained, “He’s been isolated for so long and isn’t great at communicating. Please be patient.”

“It’s okay. Take your time.”

“Thank you for saving me.” Shang Yang mustered up his courage. “I heard you faced dangers and fought many to save me. You’re really brave.”

“To manage to sneak into a lifeboat and escape in such an environment, I think you’re the truly brave one,” Ling Xiao sincerely praised him. To face the vast expanse of space alone required immense courage. Shang Yang’s eyes sparkled. Not only was Ling Xiao his savior, but he was also the first to say such words to him.

“What’s your real name? Why do they still call you Shang Yang?”

“His real information was erased by Tai Yin. We couldn’t find it in the database,” the bishop interjected.

Ling Xiao was about to speak when the bishop added, “His presence here is still a secret. We don’t want to make it public or let unrelated people know to avoid leaks.”

Ling Xiao understood, feeling sorry for Shang Yang. He had been imprisoned by Tai Yin since his awakening and now just hid in another place.

“So, he can’t go to school or interact with other fledglings?”

“For his safety, I’m afraid that’s the case for now,” the bishop said. “Tai Yin is exceptionally intelligent, and we can’t underestimate him. Sending him to a primary school is too risky.”

“That’s a pity. If he could interact with his peers, find someone he likes, and go through the coming-of-age ceremony, even Tai Yin would be powerless.”

From Shang Yang’s eyes, Ling Xiao saw hope and got an idea. “Today is Fledgling Day, and there are many fledglings outside. If we bring him to a mixer party, no one should recognize him, right?”

With hopeful eyes, Shang Yang looked at the bishop, who turned to the Marshal. Under everyone’s gaze, the Marshal made a decision. “I’ll assign two people to accompany you, just in case.”

Shang Yang’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Ling Xiao, energized, looped his arm around Shang Yang’s neck, “Let’s go have fun!”

As they headed out, the Marshal gave Ying Feng a warning look. Understanding the unspoken message, Ying Feng replied, “Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on those two.”

Ling Xiao, along with Shang Yang and two bodyguards, returned to the school. As darkness set in, the party was about to begin. To ensure Shang Yang’s safety, they had prepared a disguise mask for him.

The Royal Sky Military Academy was a prestigious institution on Tianxiu. Naturally, its fledgling students carried the reputation of “golden bachelors”. Every year on this day, many fledglings from other top institutions would travel great distances to join the Royal Sky’s grand party, hoping to meet an exceptional partner. The vast gathering of fledglings created a perfect cover for Shang Yang’s concealed identity.

Upon arriving at the party venue, they discovered two entrance doors: one slightly wider and the other narrower, only permitting a single person’s passage.

Surprisingly, many adults were also participating in the party, implying that Fledgling Day wasn’t exclusively for fledglings. Naturally, where there was a lively scene, Red Head was bound to make an appearance. Spotting Ling Xiao, he excitedly signaled from behind the wider door. “Use this door! This one!”

“What’s the difference?” Ling Xiao asked, standing between the two entrances.

A party attendant explained with a smile, “Today is Fledgling Day, and all attendees are single. The narrow door is sufficient for entry. However, if you wish to enter as a couple, you’ll face a penalty.”

Understanding, Ling Xiao initially headed towards the narrow door but was assertively pulled by Ying Feng towards the wider one.

“Hey, don’t flaunt our relationship in front of the single fledglings,” Ling Xiao whispered.

“Shouldn’t we?” Ying Feng asked seriously.

After pondering for a moment, Ling Xiao conceded. “Yes, you’re right.”

“Shang Yang, you…” He had just turned his head to greet him when he realized that the other had already passed through the narrow door and ran ahead of them, waiting with an expectant look to watch the fun unfold.

“Wonder what the penalty is,” Ling Xiao murmured as they both stepped through the wider entrance.

Suddenly, a bucket of water cascaded from above. Just as they were about to get drenched, a protective barrier surrounded them, keeping them completely dry.

“Ah! Using a soul crystal is so unfair!” The onlookers criticized Ying Feng’s cunningness.

Ling Xiao proudly thought, ‘My Qizhu is so smart!’

“That’s practically cheating!” Red Head and his group approached. “We thought we’d finally see Ying Feng in a humorous plight, but you couldn’t even grant us this small wish on a holiday.”

Ling Xiao noticed their dry attire and asked, “How did you guys get through?”

“We came with Yu Ji and the others. They walked ahead of us. Seeing the imminent drenching, we quickly slipped through the narrow door.”

As they chatted, Ling Xiao spotted Yu Ji and his partner, looking as if they had been caught in a downpour. It was rare to see Shuang Feng not taking a nap during his free time.

“You guys are no better than us, even more cunning,” Ling Xiao jested.

Everyone teased each other for a while, and Ling Xiao took the opportunity to introduce Shang Yang to them.

“This is my friend, Xiao Yang. He came to hang out with us today.”

He didn’t say anything else, and Yu Ji’s group just assumed that Shang Yang was a friend from Ling Xiao’s preliminary school. Red Head and his group, although they had seen Shang Yang before, couldn’t recognize him behind the mask. In front of everyone, Ling Xiao didn’t feel it appropriate to explain.

Nobody asked any questions; they just welcomed Shang Yang’s arrival.

“Are you here to find a partner, kiddo? We have many excellent single fledglings here,” someone teased.

Ling Xiao pushed Red Head playfully. “The ‘kiddo’ you’re talking about has been awake for more years than I have.”

Shang Yang had never interacted with so many people at once. Even on the Eagle, Tai Yin had always locked him up in a small room, and the only person he ever saw was Tai Yin. So, he shyly hid behind Ling Xiao.

“You scared the little one,” Ling Xiao jested.

Red Head quickly tried to redeem himself. “I just saw some graduates from Lion Academy attending the party. Later on, I’ll introduce them to you.”

“We don’t need to know anyone from your school,” Ling Xiao teased, remembering the mishap with Red Head’s chemistry classmate. If it weren’t for that classmate giving the wrong stuff, they wouldn’t have been assigned mandatory labor, which led them to meet the fleeing Shang Yang and ultimately rescue him. On second thought, maybe they should be grateful.

“Huh? Are you saying my Qizhu is unreliable?”

Ling Xiao, pulling Shang Yang with him, moved deeper into the party, ignoring the shouting Red Head behind him.

There were many booths at the party, and many were surrounded by a crowd.

“Come and join our activity.” Someone invited Ling Xiao and his group. “Both fledglings and adults can participate.”

“What’s the activity?”

“We’re from the Older Fledgling Club. We pride ourselves on being single. If you come on stage and draw a question, answer it, and get approval from the audience, you’ll get a small gift.”

“I’m good at answering questions,” Red Head announced as he rushed to the stage, rolling up his sleeves. “I’m here to participate!”

The club members distributed real flowers and virtual rotten eggs to everyone. The rotten eggs, when thrown, would create visual, auditory, and olfactory sensations but would disappear after 30 seconds.

“If you think the person on stage is doing well, throw flowers. If you’re dissatisfied, throw the rotten eggs. We’ll judge the answers based on your votes.”

Red Head quickly made it to the stage, hit the machine, and his question popped up.

Question for adults: Since forming a pact, what is the one thing you regret the most?

Ling Xiao understood the point. This was the Older Fledgling Club, after all. If fledglings came on stage, they would probably be making single declarations. If adults came, they would talk negatively about forming pacts to make the fledglings even prouder of being single.

“The thing I regret the most…” Red Head pondered, gripping the mic tightly, appearing to be struggling with his answer.

Ling Xiao, hardly containing his laughter, was ready for Red Head to give a nonsensical response.

“The thing I regret the most is that when I formed a pact with my Qizhu, I had already been a fledgling for thirteen years. I deeply regret this. Why didn’t I confess my feelings to him earlier? If I had confessed sooner, we could have had more time together. A day sooner is an extra day; a year sooner is an extra year. Confessing after thirteen years as a fledgling wasted so much time!” He passionately pointed to the crowd below. “So all of you older fledglings, quickly shed your single status and find your destined partner. Once you find someone you truly love, you’ll regret wasting these years being single. The longer you remain single now, the less time you’ll have in love in the future. What are you waiting for? Act now!”

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