Chapter Seventy-Nine: Return to Earth Once More

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Chapter Seventy-Nine: Returning to Earth

Inside the laboratory, Qingyi Shen had already stepped down from the experiment platform. Dr. Ruishi was still standing there, wide-eyed and stunned. It wasn’t that the doctor was unaccustomed to surprises, but rather that what Weiwu Wang had just said was too astonishing. This was also why Ruishi liked Weiwu Wang—being with him, something surprising always seemed to happen.

“It’s all done. Your grandfather said that after the test, you should rest for a while before we head back to Earth,” Weiwu Wang said as he walked out of the lab with Qingyi Shen.

“I’ll follow your arrangements—I’m fine with anything,” Qingyi replied. In fact, she was eager to return; she felt ready to leave now. After overcoming her previous physical discomfort, she now felt better than ever.

Her improvement was all-encompassing: her vision, hearing, perception, and strength had all been enhanced. And then there was that peculiar energy circulating within her body.

“I’ll go pack up. The experimental data still needs some time for analysis. As for your questions, I believe your grandfather will explain everything once we’re back,” Weiwu Wang said with a gentle smile. There was no need to guess—anyone revived as she had been would be filled with questions.

Qingyi said nothing more. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at Weiwu Wang in thanks, then fell silent.

“Oh, and… Liu Shaoyu should be back soon. Here’s his comm number.” As soon as he said this, Weiwu Wang realized how silly it was—how could Qingyi not know Liu Shaoyu’s new comm number?

He gave an awkward smile to cover his embarrassment, bid Qingyi farewell, and went to organize the experimental data.

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The massive starship crossed the stargate.

“Autopilot disengaged. Stargate reached.”

At last, after a long journey, Liu Shaoyu and his companions arrived at the temporary operations headquarters of the Cyclops Bounty Group in the Anjeding System.

Calling it a “temporary” headquarters was a misnomer—this was actually their only command center. There was a story behind that, one that belonged to an older generation.

Everything in his new life had started here, so Liu Shaoyu had many things to conclude in this place.

For instance…

“Yes, I’ve given it careful thought,” Liu Shaoyu said with a smile to the staff member before him. Although many operations were now handled by artificial intelligence, there were still officers assigned to oversee captain transfers in the fleet.

“Please scan your code here, and it will be complete,” the attendant said, pointing to a spot on the holo-screen. Liu Shaoyu scanned the citizen identification code from his computer, and the handover of the Young Dragon Fleet was finalized.

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“You have a message from Weiwu Wang.” As soon as Liu Shaoyu stepped out of the room, Thomas reported the communication.

Upon opening the message, Liu Shaoyu’s face lit up with joy. He quickly made his way to Xu Meng’s room.

“It’s done,” Weiwu Wang said to Xu Meng.

“So, where are you headed next?”

“Me? Back to Earth.”

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“Dear passengers, welcome aboard the Star Express operated by Starlight Rapid Company. We are about to arrive at the first planet of the Solar System—Earth. There will be slight turbulence as we enter the atmosphere; this is normal, so please do not be alarmed. The ship will reach our destination in five minutes. Please remain seated and do not unfasten your seatbelts until we have come to a complete stop.”

Liu Shaoyu listened to the announcement with interest, different from the other passengers. Since leaving Earth, he had only returned a handful of times, and rarely had the chance to travel on an interstellar express.

“Do they always have to go on like this?” grumbled the young man beside Liu Shaoyu, though he still reached over to fasten his seatbelt.

“Why are you looking at me? Aren’t you buckling up? When the gravity shifts, just don’t throw up on me,” the young man complained as Liu Shaoyu stared at him.

Only then did Liu Shaoyu realize how impolite it was to stare, and he quickly turned his attention to his own seatbelt.

This was first class—booked by Xu Meng. Liu Shaoyu himself didn’t care where he sat, but since the seat was already reserved, he wasn’t going to waste it.

The young man glanced at Liu Shaoyu’s clothes, puzzled. “Doesn’t look like a nouveau riche… Where did this bumpkin come from?”

Had Liu Shaoyu known what he was thinking, he would have just laughed it off—there was no need to stoop to that level.

Before leaving the bounty group, Liu Shaoyu received a severance payment from the fleet. He had laughed heartily upon receiving it—it was originally meant as a gesture for those leaving the fleet, and now he himself was a recipient.

The severance pay amounted to three months’ salary—not a fortune, but not insignificant either. This allowed Liu Shaoyu to put off dealing with his ice ore for the moment. At this point, he was practically penniless.

There was less than 300,000 left in his account. As captain, his salary was 100,000 universal credits per month—a modest sum. In the bounty group, no one lived off a fixed salary. As the name suggested, they lived by bounty.

The Young Dragon Fleet was Liu Shaoyu’s only fixed asset. Most of the bounties he earned had been invested in the fleet’s equipment and ships. With few personal expenses, he had never bothered to save much.

Now, leaving it all behind, Liu Shaoyu would have to start considering such matters. Before he could carry out his plans, he knew he’d need a considerable sum of money.

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At last, the ship docked smoothly at the passenger terminal. It was noon in Huaxia, and the autumn breeze felt wonderfully refreshing.

This time, Liu Shaoyu was much calmer than before—experience breeds confidence. Standing at the terminal entrance, he took a deep breath of Earth’s air.

“Hey, buddy! Need a lift?” called a voice.

Liu Shaoyu turned toward the sound and saw the young man from earlier, waving from the driver’s seat of a silver sports car.

“No, thank you! Don’t trouble yourself,” Liu Shaoyu replied with a smile.

The young man was good-hearted, though growing up in privilege had given him a tendency to judge by appearances.

When his friendly offer was declined, he felt a bit put out, but it was just a passing impulse. Since Liu Shaoyu declined, he wasn’t going to insist.

“All right, I’m off then,” the young man said, giving a wave before speeding out of the station.

“This way, Mr. Liu,” said a well-dressed man standing before Liu Shaoyu.

Since he had been addressed by name, Liu Shaoyu assumed they had not mistaken his identity. He nodded and followed the group to a black sedan.

Liu Shaoyu didn’t pay attention to the car’s make, but after the young man left, he noticed someone else approach Liu Shaoyu and slowed down to watch through his rearview mirror. When he saw Liu Shaoyu being ushered into a sedan by a man in a suit, he checked the car’s emblem and slammed on the brakes in shock.

“Heavens! A Kaya Dawn!” the young man exclaimed, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t mistaken.

“So… he really is loaded!” It finally dawned on him why Liu Shaoyu had refused his offer—a Kaya Dawn made his own little sports car look like a child’s toy.

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