Chapter 51: Stumbling Toward Him Like a Fledgling Bird

A breeze brushed across his face, and Xie Jianxun closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, he had already sorted through his emotions.

He let out a heavy breath before saying lightly, “Alright, I’ve made up my mind anyway.”

One asked abruptly, “Do you like him? Like a lover?”

Xie Jianxun froze for a moment and hurriedly thought it over.

The little repairman knocked on his head, saying uncertainly, “I do like him a lot, because I’ve never been that impulsive, wanting to meet him so badly. But is that the feeling of wanting to date? I don’t know… Oh, before, I was just making excuses. Otherwise, it would be too weird—I’ve never even met him, yet I stubbornly wanted to find him.”

“What’s that saying? Open your eyes to the world. Right, he was the first person I saw when I opened my eyes to the world. Everything the butler didn’t explain, he broke it down and taught me.”

Xie Jianxun continued, “Otherwise, you’d see a total idiot standing here now who can’t even pay for things or hold a conversation with people… Utterly stupid.”

One said, “Then why does it have to be him? There are so many knowledgeable people in the world.”

The mechanical puppet’s voice was exceptionally soft.

If he wanted to, he could do it too.

He could download knowledge from Star Net, load it into a chip, and instantly become a “knowledgeable person,” then coax an innocent lamb into devoting itself to him completely.

The chip sank to the bottom.

Blow up this ship, then bury it underground with his star.

Xie Jianxun didn’t think much of it. “Well, it’s because he told me a story—a very important one—and I haven’t heard the ending yet. Alright, enough about that.”

He jumped down from the railing and reached for the mechanical puppet’s hand.

Human fingertips were snow-white and soft. The mechanical puppet looked down, grasped his hand in return, and tightened his grip.

Xie Jianxun cheerfully tilted up his small face, sniffed, and pulled One along to run.

“I think I smell dinner! Come on, let’s go eat! I’m starving!”

This time, he couldn’t budge him. Xie Jianxun turned back in confusion.

For the first time, the mechanical puppet wasn’t smiling.

“I want to hold your hand,” he said deeply. “Would you let me?”

“Like this—palms pressed together, ten fingers interlaced, close enough that fingertips touch the back of the hand.”

The Patrol Troops successfully captured all the fleeing sand bandits, even dragging one out of a toilet stall who was huddled there trembling with his head in his hands.

The sand bandits were tied up in a row, sitting side by side.

Since they showed no intent to resist with weapons, the troops decided against executing them on the spot and planned to take them back to Golden City for trial.

As for the mutated colossal corpse of Giant Jack, specialized personnel collected tissue samples to bring back for study.

Everyone withdrew from the federal ship, using its massive hull to block the wind and sand.

They set up camp right there and simply prepared some dinner.

Xie Jianxun slurped down two cans of bean soup, his eyes narrowing in satisfaction.

He patted his belly, thinking that although they hadn’t found the Golden Fruit Forest, the delicious bean soup made it worth it.

As he ate a sausage sandwich, the Patrol Army Captain approached on his own.

He sat down first and handed Xie Jianxun a fresh can of bean soup. The little repairman happily accepted it.

Then, the captain turned to look at One.

“Commander, this ship has been sunk for over ten years. Will the Federation still recover it?”

He said politely, “I need to report this intel to the City Lord’s Mansion. I hope you understand.”

One casually took the bean soup and said to Xie Jianxun, “This is your third bowl. Drinking more might cause indigestion… Probably will; it has quite a few special ingredients.”

The mechanical puppet slowly stirred the soup in the can and, under Xie Jianxun’s angry glare, took a sip himself.

Xie Jianxun said gloomily, “Don’t you have your own food?”

He snatched it back again.

The Patrol Army Captain sighed. “That probably means waiting for the Federation to send someone again. This way, Desert Star can reconnect to the Federation’s orbit—maybe even develop better.”

One’s attention was entirely on the little repairman, focused on whether he’d overdone the bean soup and risk indigestion.

It took effort to pull his focus back, and he responded offhandedly, “Perhaps.”

“And that… King Insect.”

The Patrol Army Captain forced out the words.

“Do you know more about the King Insect? Golden City probably can’t withstand another insect disaster.”

“I only judged that a second King Insect is still alive. For other details, instead of asking me, you should ask that lady who tried to leave on her own.”

He finally spoke up. “She might know more than I do.”

Everyone’s gazes converged like spotlights on the woman who had already reached the landship.

The Patrol Army Captain shot to his feet. “Where do you think you’re going?!”

The woman’s expression shifted several times before she looked over coldly.

In the end, she walked back over to talk with the Patrol Army Captain. “I’m a researcher on insect clan habits. But when it comes to knowing more about the insect clan, I still can’t compare to Commander here.”

One said politely, “When it comes to surveying, you’re more professional.”

The woman replied, “My plan is to enter the Golden Fruit Forest and complete the survey. The reconnaissance showed the fruit forest is unexpectedly vast this time. The King Insect is very likely nearby.”

The Patrol Army Captain pointed at the sand bandits.

“Your idea is good, ma’am, but I can’t let the sand bandits tag along.” He emphasized, “I have to look after everyone.”

The woman stated firmly, “Then just me and a few bodyguards to protect me. We’ll only survey the outskirts—no need to face the bugs head-on.”

She tried to say more, but the Patrol Army Captain cut her off.

“Impossible, ma’am. Right now, we need to rush back to the city, not go further.”

He said coldly, “Providing the City Lord’s Mansion with intel on the King Insect awakening and preparing for the likely insect disaster attack—that’s more important than anything… You’re from Golden City too; you should understand.”

The woman blurted out, “Isn’t scouting the timing of the insect disaster even more important?!”

They were already very close to the fruit forest coordinates.

To give up like this—how could she accept it?!

Xie Jianxun bit his spoon, a vague idea forming: This lady wouldn’t happen to want to go deep into the Golden Fruit Forest, would she?

After a standoff, she didn’t compromise.

She was direct, striding up to One and saying, “I believe I can offer a price you’ll accept—how much do you want to come with me to the Golden Fruit Forest? I’ll pay on top of what Basero already owes you.”

From the side came protesting noises: “Hey, he’s a Federation commander! Liya, you should at least discuss it with me first.”

The mechanical puppet said nothing, head lowered, watching Xie Jianxun drink his bean soup.

So the woman shifted her gaze to Xie Jianxun, who was drinking bean soup.

The Patrol Army Captain looked over too, eyeing the half-finished can in Xie Jianxun’s hand.

Xie Jianxun: “…”

Why are they all looking at me?

What, do you all want bean soup too?

One said warmly, “I’ll follow your opinion.”

Xie Jianxun blurted out, “If you want canned bean soup, go grab your own… I mean, sir, you should decide this yourself.”

He was just a powerless logistics repairman—what good advice could he give?

One lowered his eyes and made his decision.

His lashes were long and curled, adding a touch of tenderness to the mechanical puppet’s face.

“I’ll only go wherever this gentleman goes,” he said coolly. “As for the rest, I must decline.”

The woman immediately turned to Xie Jianxun, eyes burning.

Xie Jianxun clutched his bean soup, a bit at a loss, as the woman seized the chance to tempt him. “It’s a vast, mysterious, beautiful fruit forest—like your eyes… Don’t you really want to see it? If we can pick some fruit along the way, the market price is higher than you can imagine…”

The Patrol Army Captain warned her, “Don’t say reckless things.”

Someone called from the side, “Liya, come back. We need to get the news back ASAP.”

Xie Jianxun’s heart raced wildly.

He thought it over and shook his head with effort. “No.”

The woman gasped, “Why?!”

Xie Jianxun took a deep breath. “Ma’am, the insect disaster is obviously imminent. A few days more or less won’t matter. Even if we survey the exact timing, it can’t compare to returning to the city sooner and preparing earlier.”

He gestured at the surrounding Patrol Troops. “And without facing swarms of bugs.”

The woman was utterly disappointed and turned to leave.

As she passed Basero, she glared at him. “Captain, you should put in some effort too.”

Basero shrugged indifferently. “Liya, my first priority is my team members’ safety.”

After the meal, everyone packed up, divided supplies, and the researchers lifted Giant Jack’s body off the ship.

Lacking a proper transport crate, they wrapped it in supply preservation film, like mummifying a body.

The Patrol Army Captain came over and tossed something to Xie Jianxun.

Xie Jianxun caught it—it was his personal light brain, lost and found multiple times!

He happily stroked it, thinking that as expected of an expensive new model.

After so many bumps and knocks, the screen was still shiny as new. Its durability was no joke.

But he’d never wear it directly on his wrist again—that would just paint a target on him as a fat sheep…

Xie Jianxun muttered as he tucked the neck-hard drive inside and wore the light brain as a pendant.

Night fell, and tonight’s temperature didn’t seem as cold as before. Xie Jianxun only wore a jacket.

Unbeknownst to him, his vision gradually blurred.

Xie Jianxun puzzledly pinched his fingers and whispered, “One, do you feel anything off?”

Before One could speak, the merchant caravan captain nearby answered cheerfully, “Yeah. Like how there are so many insect burrows around, but not a single bug has attacked us.”

Xie Jianxun: “…No, that’s not what I meant.”

Antonio stood across from Basero. The young captain looked up too, sniffing the familiar scent in the air.

He frowned, realizing something.

“Fog’s rising again.”

He hurried off to notify the Patrol Army Captain. The others immediately recalled that strange fog zone from before.

They couldn’t stay here long. They’d planned to rest more, but now the longer they delayed, the more trouble they’d invite.

The landship convoy geared up to depart.

Everyone boarded hastily, and the vehicles rumbled back the way they’d come.

Along the way, the fog clung like it was reluctant to let them go, growing thicker until the once-clear dune horizons vanished from sight.

The Patrol Army Captain slammed on the brakes and commanded over the comm buckles to all ships, “Everyone, stop!”

The landship convoy halted as if pinned by an invisible hand. No vehicle dared cross the captain’s order.

The Patrol Army Captain grew more uneasy the longer he looked.

Until his deputy leaned in and gasped.

“C-Captain,” the deputy said, eyes wide. “Don’t you think we’ve veered off our original route?”

The captain had been about to say he’d driven straight without turning the wheel—how could they have deviated?

But he couldn’t voice it, because he thought the same.

In the rear landship, Xie Jianxun alertly sat up.

He’d been napping in One’s arms earlier.

Now poking his head out, he checked the rearview mirror and felt like he’d popped up out of nowhere… Hmm, compared to the commander next to him, he really was tiny, so small…

Driver Basero’s mind wandered.

He propped his cheek with one hand, the other on the wheel, foot on the brake. “Why’d they stop us up front?”

The passenger seat passenger said nothing, just glared at him intensely.

After a moment, Liya frowned. “Captain, you don’t care at all about exterminating the insect clan.”

Basero replied, “Don’t say that, Liya. I’ve always prioritized everyone’s safety first. After all, wiping out bugs is for development and stability… Ah, we’re moving, we’re moving.”

Xie Jianxun fiddled with the door, squinting.

A moment later, he called One over to look too, claiming the mechanical puppet’s eyes were sharper.

“Is it my imagination, or did another oasis appear ahead?” Xie Jianxun said uncertainly.

Sure enough, the landship convoy braked hard again.

The Patrol Army Captain’s cold voice, laced with tension, transmitted over every comm buckle.

“It’s an unmarked strange oasis. Everyone, attention—turn left, we’ll go around…”

His voice cut off abruptly.

Xie Jianxun saw it too: around that oasis were small golden shrubs, branches laden with fruit, appearing right before their eyes.

Someone murmured, “What is this?” But they knew full well in their hearts.

The Golden Fruit Forest.

It appeared just like that in the depths of the fog.