CR CH34

Chapter 34: Confrontation

A small military warship departed from the interstellar fortress of the Empire’s Silver Guard garrison. The region near the D-class planet was quiet and desolate, rarely showing the energy tracks or jump points of interstellar trains.

“I heard Z01 cracked open a little golden egg—top 1% of the Federation database. Is that for real?”

The speaker was Jiang Ziming, Captain of Federation Special Assistance Team Two and Ling Kongmiao’s adjutant.

The two hadn’t seen each other for nearly two months. Jiang Ziming had been pouring out his grievances the entire way, only now remembering to dig for gossip. He leaned in sneakily, lowering his voice.

Transporting the S-class mutant required passing through the Empire’s garrison star fortress, and as luck would have it, General Taylor was the one present this time. Ling Kongmiao was only 22 years old, but looking back over his decade of rebellious youth, he had truly made countless enemies and acted completely lawlessly.

Today’s general happened to be one of the absolute prominent figures on his grudge list.

Having just survived a fierce battle of wits and words, Ling Kongmiao’s expression was icy. He casually tossed his cloak onto a chair and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his uniform collar.

“What do you think?”

Jiang Ziming clicked his tongue. “I think you’re incredibly lucky. That’s the top 1%. Most of them are elusive figures in the Star Alliance whom you never get to see.”

“Do you know how long it’s been since the top ranks of the database were updated? It’s still being held up by the older generation. Now you go on a mission and one gets delivered right to your face. You’ve got to seize the opportunity.”

Ling Kongmiao pinched the bridge of his nose. “…Don’t you have work to do?”

“Just finished processing it, so I’m free right now. We haven’t seen each other in two months—can’t we catch up a bit?”

Ling Kongmiao sighed softly. Catching sight of a slender figure approaching out of the corner of his eye, he simply opened his device and pulled up a small screen to work.

“Captain Jiang, looking handsome as always.” Irene smiled, reaching out to pat his shoulder. “What are you chatting about?”

“Talking about your Z01’s little golden egg.” Jiang Ziming pouted toward Ling Kongmiao. “This guy Ling is using silent treatment on us again. Young people just love acting all mature. Years ago, when he got angry with that fresh face of his, he was way cuter than he is now.”

Irene shrugged. “The Captain might just be shy. After all, they have quite a history together. No matter how cold someone is, when they meet their white moonlight…”

Ling Kongmiao interrupted coldly, “Any more casual chatter and your salary for this month will be entirely docked.”

“Don’t interrupt!” Jiang Ziming caught the scent of something unusual, his eyes lighting up. “Irene, keep going. What white moonlight?”

“Well, you’ll find out later.” Receiving a warning glare from Ling Kongmiao, Irene coughed lightly and shifted the subject. “Captain, why didn’t you tell Zhao Hengyi that individuals in the top 1% of the Federation database are classified as high-priority subjects and are excluded from standard rating filters?”

“The Federation wants to retain these people, but most still choose to retire and join the Star Alliance. Because you didn’t say anything, that big bear has been talking smack behind your back for half an hour, accusing you of playing favorites.”

Ling Kongmiao sneered. “The impact of him saying I’m playing favorites is slightly better than him harassing the team members.”

Irene wanted to say a few more words, but inadvertently catching a glimpse of the content on the small screen, she fell silent.

“What kind of riddles are you two playing?” Jiang Ziming’s gaze darted between the two. Seeing Irene’s subtle expression, he glanced at the screen as well and immediately marvelled, “Who offended you this time?”

Irene tucked her long hair behind her ear. “I recall the Star Supervision Office’s intention was to give him a bit of special care, guide him more, and try to produce a dual awakening.”

Ling Kongmiao looked up. “What are you trying to say?”

“Special care?” Jiang Ziming’s mouth twitched as he stared at the screen and complained. “Locking him up and training him to death?”

“Then how should I care for him?” Ling Kongmiao raised an eyebrow slightly. “Feed him his meals? Coax him to sleep?”

Irene noted diplomatically, “Even the training volume of the Ability Department next door hasn’t reached this level.”

Ling Kongmiao: “This is the fastest way. Pushing him right to his physical limits is about right.”

“…”

Jiang Ziming looked up at Irene, who was equally speechless. A thousand words melted into a single question: “Can you point out which unlucky bastard it is later?”

Irene smiled with pursed lips. “The handsomest one in Z01’s ordinary division is him.”

_

The mop-up mission was successfully completed, and the survivors were sent to a nearby aid station. The children who had not yet differentiated and could not survive independently were temporarily brought back to the Federation, placed in a special shelter provided by the Watchtower organization.

Standing at the tail end of the line, Jiang Tianji cast a final look back, suddenly realizing what Li Xiao had said right before she started crying.

The scene had been too noisy for him to hear clearly at the time. But now, gazing at the barren, desolate land, Li Xiao’s voice gradually became distinct in his mind. She had said, “It is very lively today.”

He turned around silently, following the squad forward.

The lounge was exceptionally quiet. Most people closed their eyes to rest, with only the sound of breathing and an occasional light cough echoing in the room.

Jiang Tianji leaned his head against the small oval window, lazily tracing the outline of a flower on it with his finger. Thanks to Jia Yun holding down the fort at the very end of the line, their corner had plenty of space, allowing them even to lie sideways.

He stared out the window in a daze. The depths of his dark green eyes held a brilliant light, yet they resembled an empty mirror. Jiang Tianji unconsciously traced the silhouette of a little girl on the glass. The glass wouldn’t retain the mark; only he knew what he was drawing.

Li Xiao’s eyes were dark and bright, mature beyond her years. She hadn’t said a single word about her parents—perhaps she didn’t have any, which was all too normal on a D-class planet. Such a small child, standing by the roadside shorter than the rocks, with no parents or reliance. Yet when she cried, she didn’t scream that she was afraid; instead, she asked if she could save people in the future—save the people whom no one remembered.

Jiang Tianji couldn’t help but smile faintly, but gradually, the amusement in his eyes faded.

“Anyone would think it was your house that collapsed, young master.” Jia Yun spoke with his eyes closed, his tone mocking. “Even the little girl wasn’t as sentimental as you.”

“A philanthropic person finds a home anywhere,” Jiang Tianji replied casually, standing up. “I’m going to the restroom.”

With assembly time approaching, the restroom was completely empty. Jiang Tianji adjusted his clothes and walked to the sink to wash his face. Catching sight of himself in the mirror, his movements slowed.

No wonder the ‘make-out guy’ mocked him; his complexion really did look terrible.

“Jiang Tianji, I’m saying all this today because I want you to give us a chance to understand each other. We are a team.”

Scattered scenes and voices flashed through his mind.

“The people in the base come from all corners of the world. Once you walk out of this door, there may never be a day we meet again. You can give anyone a chance to know you here—just look at it as giving yourself a chance.”

“Right now, everyone is saving you, understood?”

“Xiao Tian, in the future, you will be like me, going out to save even more people.”

Jiang Yan had said something else after that, but the young child had only caught a few fragments, failing to grasp her meaning. One day after growing up, Jiang Tianji suddenly understood, but he had never tried to piece the full sentence together. It wasn’t that he couldn’t, but rather that he didn’t want to.

But today, Li Xiao had also asked him: “Can I be like you all? To go and save people?”

Taking advantage of his straying thoughts, during those few rigid seconds, his brain automatically pieced together the latter half of Jiang Yan’s words:

“Because you were once one of them.”

Unlike Li Xiao, he had never felt hatred, because before he could face a miserable and helpless existence, his mother had arrived first. The nightmares he fell into countless times were pitch black; the person in his dream moved the rocks away, he saw the light, woke up crying, and saw Jiang Yan’s worried face.

_

A shadow entered his peripheral vision. Jiang Tianji reined in his thoughts, shook the water from his hair, and turned around to lock eyes with Liang Chong.

In the ensuing few seconds of stillness, neither made a move. Jiang Tianji was the first to step forward. As they brushed past each other, they suddenly spoke at the exact same time.

Liang Chong: “Trash.”

Jiang Tianji: “Are you just naturally cheap?”

Liang Chong froze, snapping his head toward him. “What did you say?”

“I said you’re cheap.” Jiang Tianji lowered his eyes, his tone displaying a hint of utter disgust. “Guarding that pathetic self-esteem of yours day in and day out. Just because someone is ranked above your name, you act like a abandoned, resentful housewife.”

He laughed mockingly, effortlessly stoking the flames of Liang Chong’s anger. “It’s been so many years—haven’t you figured it out yet? To that position, you are merely a pursuer, not the controller.”

Liang Chong sneered. “Worry about yourself instead of wasting your breath on others. On the other hand, looking at you sometimes truly makes me feel pity. After falling so hard, can you even crawl back up in this lifetime?”

“Then do you want me to crawl back up?”

Liang Chong’s expression changed slightly. He abruptly raised his hand, only to have his shoulder firmly pinned down by Jiang Tianji.

“You’re still exactly the same as before. When you can’t solve your own incompetence, you just want to eliminate the other person.”

Liang Chong instantly clenched his fist into a tight ball. Jiang Tianji pushed him away, casting a cold glance over him. “I’m already no longer ahead of you. Haven’t you gotten used to it yet?”

Leaving behind those words, he turned and walked out. Liang Chong stood frozen in place, staring at his retreating back for a long time.

Why did I freeze? Liang Chong asked himself.

Perhaps at that moment, Jiang Tianji looked too much like his old self. Laughing and standing at the very end of the line just like he used to stand right in front of him, making it impossible for Liang Chong to distinguish which way the front of the line lay.

For a very long time in the past, they had vanished from each other’s lives. But the moment they crossed paths, the opponent acted like a polished mirror, reflecting the hidden, ugly side of oneself. To a certain extent, they were of the exact same kind.

Liang Chong finished using the facilities in an abnormally quiet manner, but the door he slammed shut with immense force betrayed the violent rage churning inside its owner.

Click.

After both of them had left, a figure stepped out from one of the cubicles.

Black combat boots stepped onto the floor, making a rhythmic sound as the silver-white tips of his hair swayed gently. Ling Kongmiao calmly walked over to the sink to wash his hands. The reflection in the mirror slowly curved into an inscrutable smile.