Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zong Lizi was a very smart girl. Now that she knew the story in “The Path toward Heaven” was real, she had thought many things through, like the reason why her Teacher believed Jing Jiu was the new god, the reason why so many important figures had shown up in the mansion of the priest clan, the reason Capital City was tightly guarded that day, and the reason why so many incidents had happened.
The praying hall and the ascendants had been contending for Jing Jiu, and he had finally made up his mind.
He and those ascendants hailed from the same place, they were folks from the same town, so to speak.
Jing Jiu had told her about being a stranger in a strange land and the logic behind anchoring.
She understood his decision but was still somewhat worried. “You shouldn’t believe those people,” said she.
“I don’t trust anyone,” returned Jing Jiu.
Zong Lizi didn’t feel disappointed by the answer, but she asked nervously, “Can I go with you?”
“No. Keep the origami crane I gave you in a safe place, and tear it up or burn it when you encounter danger.”
Having said that, Jing Jiu came to the deck.
Knowing that she could in no way alter his decision, Zong Lizi pouted indignantly.
In the next moment, she brought a cup of tea and handed it to him.
Jing Jiu took the teacup and had a sip of it while looking at the tree in the courtyard.
Following his line of sight, Zong Lizi saw Jiang Yuxia and Hua Xi sit under the tree.
Jiang Yuxia was saying something in a low voice, feeling depressed.
Hua Xi opened her eyes wide with a naïve expression on her face, indicating she didn’t understand what Jiang Yuxia was talking about.
The lawn outside the courtyard looked like a carpet, and the green trees formed a forest.
A gust of wind suddenly kicked up at the deep end of the forest, ruffling the tree branches. It was believed that a floating train was approaching.
Soon after, several floating vehicles and two spaceships arrived at the compound of the mansion.
Ran Handong disembarked from one of the spaceships and stood on the lawn and received those important figures coming over from various places.
The main preachers of the praying hall, the high-level officials of the government, the members of the Administrative Committee and the heads of various clans had come, and so did Ran Donglou in person.
“Bring Colonel Ran with you. She can help you, and you need someone to help you take care of the chores,” said Zong Lizi.
Jing Jiu ignored those important figures arriving at the mansion. He said while looking at the two girls under the tree, “I’ll bring Hua Xi with me.”
Zong Lizi felt astonished, wondering why he picked Hua Xi.
If it was inconvenient to bring Ran Handong with him because of her background, Jiang Yuxia would be a better choice.
Hua Xi was an adorable and naïve child. Even though she was a distant relative of the Hua Clan, how could she help him in any way?
…
…
“What is going on? Whom did he go see today?”
“General Li? It’s impossible!”
“That One had met him just a few days ago; why is he so impatient?”
“He is a traitor!”
The important figures at the mansion of the priest clan made these comments because Ran Handong had told them what had occurred that day.
They wished to know the truth and were inclined to change the development of the story.
Jing Jiu had seen none of them, including Ran Donglou.
However, nobody dared to charge upstairs. No one even dared to inquire and denounce loudly. Jing Jiu had almost incapacitated Shen Yunmai in the building of the military headquarters the other day, which shocked everybody. As a result, no one dared to make any move on Jing Jiu, not even a tentative one.
Facing an emotionless alloy wall, the fists could only pull back before punching it.
The sound of discussions in the hall grew lower until it became absolutely quiet. The atmosphere was exceedingly depressing.
Dozens of gazes were fixed on Ran Donglou in hopes that this old man could say something.
Ran Donglou sat in a chair expressionlessly, saying nothing.
“In fact, they can’t blame him. The female priest didn’t express her attitude when they met the other day. What can he do?”
Hua Xi said to Jiang Yuxia in a low voice after taking a glance at the scene downstairs.
Jiang Yuxia let out a bitter smile, saying nothing.
It was then that the door of the room was pushed open and Zong Lizi signaled for them to come into the room.
It was a farewell ritual being carried out in the room, but the preparations for the departure, such as preparing luggage.
It was easy to do since Jing Jiu didn’t have much luggage to begin with.
He couldn’t bring the iron kettle with him even though he liked the tea boiled with the iron kettle. All he needed were a few clothes.
It didn’t take Ran Handong long to have folded a few sets of blue tracksuits and put them in the black backpack.
She had played her role as a secretary perfectly until now.
She asked after a moment of hesitation, “Do you need me to come with you?”
Glancing at Hua Xi who had just walked into the room, Jing Jiu said, “I’ll just bring her with me.”
Ran Handong felt surprised. Jiang Yuxia felt astonished, wondering why he wanted to bring her with him.
Hua Xi was more surprised than everybody else. Pointing to her own nose, Hua Xi asked with a naïve expression in her eyes, “Me?”
Jing Jiu didn’t give an explanation.
Hua Xi looked at Zong Lizi pitifully.
She was Zong Lizi’s assistant.
Zong Lizi said apologetically, “He will ensure your safety.”
“Can I refuse?” asked Hua Xi nervously. “I…I…want to ask my family for consent.”
“I’ll ask them,” said Jing Jiu.
This statement had a hidden meaning, but Zong Lizi, Jiang Yuxia, and Ran Handong didn’t catch it.
Hua Xi glanced at him irately. She was not as fearful as before; it was unclear if she acted this way because she was considerably upset.
With a grunt, Hua Xi took the black backpack and put it on her back. And she turned to head out of the room after tying the two straps together.
…
…
Jing Jiu was noticed by the whole world when he came to the Main Planet on the Scorching-Sun Battleship.
The whole of the Federation of the Milky Way and the humans on hundreds of planets were shocked by his handsome appearance, and all of them had been guessing his origin.
Yet, he left the Main Planet in a low-key manner that day.
His departure was not broadcasted live, nor was it known by the residents.
He and Zong Lizi were heading toward the other side of the lawn, followed by Hua Xi, who wore the backpack on her back.
Only a few dozen people witnessed the scene; they were the important figures in the Federation of the Milky Way.
General Li said that he would send someone to pick Jing Jiu up when they parted on the iceland in the southernmost part of the planet.
As the leader of the humans, General Li kept his words. The picking-up party was quite punctual.
A dozen floating vehicles with the military marks parked by the other side of the lawn noiselessly. Dozens of elite soldiers in armors and mechanical mechas awaited him there.
There were many trees in the middle of the lawn, and some were close together to form a small forest, and some stood alone.
Jing Jiu and Zong Lizi halted their steps right under a tree.
The little girl, Hua Xi, seemed to be rather upset. She didn’t heed them but walked into the floating vehicle directly. Then she tossed the backpack to the end of the bench casually.
Jing Jiu and Zong Lizi were in the shadow of the tree branches, feeling quite chilly when a waft of wind blew over.
It was a pity that the rain didn’t fall down, otherwise it would be the same as when they were at the University of Stargate.
All the gazes, including those of the important figures of the government and the soldiers who came to pick up Jing Jiu, were fixed on this young couple.
The two of them were a perfect match; one of them was a female priest, and the other was a handsome youth who had a mysterious background and was regarded highly by General Li.
If this was a story that should occur in this world, the main male character and female character should be like them.
“In fact…I like the novel you wrote.”
Zong Lizi lifted up her head and looked straight into Jing Jiu’s eyes, adding, “I like Lian Sanyue, Zhao Layue, and also the Immortal Jing Yang.”
“I know.”
Jing Jiu reached out his hand and rubbed her head.
…
…
The dozen floating vehicles left the lawn and headed toward the outside of the mansion noiselessly, disappearing without a trace soon after. It was believed that the fleet went in the direction of Capital City. The important figures had a complicated emotion at the moment, but they also felt considerably relaxed for some reason.
The situation would be the same as before. The only difference was that there would be a long-lasting peace.
It occurred to many people that Jing Jiu accepted General Li’s invitation probably for this very reason.
The Main Preacher Tai Yang, the preachers from the Stargate Base and the councilor Sha Yu kept the posture of bowing in the direction of the fleet.
Their idea was different from the others. They still believed in Jing Jiu, thinking that it was a test given by god.
The path of the humans was very long, like the passage between the stars and the oceans. Who knew what would happen in the future?
…
…
A dozen floating vehicles flew into Capital City at a low elevation. The streets had been emptied ahead of time. The soldiers responsible for reinforcing martial law were seen everywhere.
When they came to the central part of the city, they found it was even more tightly guarded, with a graver atmosphere filling the air.
The battleships outside the atmosphere could be seen clearly, so were the main laser gun platforms.
Hundreds of combat mechas were hovering in the sky, their guns aiming at the building of the military headquarters.
The inside of the military building had been repaired, but the marks left from the fight the other day were still visible on the outside walls.
The atmosphere in Capital City didn’t ease up until the dozen floating vehicles entered the parking area at the bottom of the military building one after the other.
The elevator rose to the top floor of the building from the parking area.
Ding!!!
The door of the elevator opened.
The middle-aged female officer, Colonel Chen, was waiting outside the elevator. “General Li is waiting for you,” she said softly.
She was more polite toward Jing Jiu than the other day.
Jing Jiu motioned for Hua Xi to wait outside before he walked toward the end of the metal corridor, where the office was located.
Hua Xi was a bit restless; she was surveying the surroundings curiously.
It was unclear if she behaved this way because the surface of the metal chair was too slippery and cold, or she was simply too nervous.
The books were everywhere in the office, looking like the bookstore building on Shiyue Peak.
General Li was reading a book while standing before a bookshelf.
Hearing Jing Jiu’s footsteps, he asked without raising his head, “The child of the Hua family?”
Jing Jiu uttered “hmm”.
“It’s a very interesting choice,” commented General Li.
