In the vast expanse of space, a small transport ship navigated tensely and thrillingly.
Its destination this time was the largest port city on the edge of the Western Border Star System, where it would dock for seven days to restock on essential supplies from Golden City.
Xie Jianxun could also transfer there to a flight from another airline and head to any destination he desired.
A flight attendant knocked on the door of the distinguished guest’s cabin with a lunch menu, only to find it empty inside.
Meanwhile, Xie Jianxun himself stood in the cockpit, nearly stammering from nerves.
“You’re saying you have the City Lord’s Mansion’s comm code, and their signal is completely normal. If there’s any anomaly, someone will contact you directly.”
After confirming that was exactly what the captain had said, Xie Jianxun let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Everything was normal for now, which meant the explosives hadn’t detonated. Golden City had passed the crisis oblivious and unscathed.
Perhaps the detonator had a change of heart, or maybe the City Lord’s Mansion had cleared them out in advance.
The Mechanical Puppet didn’t talk much, but when it did, it went big.
Xie Jianxun thought, what kind of mess was this!
Once he found someone to repair One’s Mechanical Core, it would probably grab him by the collar and demand to know what the hell was in his head.
…Had Golden City offended him badly before?
Or was there someone in the city he hated to the bone, enough to want the whole place buried with them?
He returned to his cabin uneasily. The flight attendant was still at the door, asking what he wanted for dinner.
Xie Jianxun pointed randomly, and in the end, a plate of green, gooey mush was brought out. His vision went black, and he nearly keeled over.
Finally, dipping bread into the sauce, he discovered that while the mush looked unappetizing, it tasted pretty good—rich with spices, savory and slightly sweet.
His mood calmed somewhat.
After the flight attendant cleared the tray, he flopped onto the bed, pulled the blanket over his head, and thought a nap might make things better by tomorrow.
Amid a whirlwind of thoughts, he slowly drifted into sleep.
The first day passed peacefully.
When he woke groggily, he realized it wasn’t the captain’s announcement that roused him, but a hand toying with his hair.
The hand played with his hair, even brushing the tips against his eyelids.
Who the hell!
So unreasonable—disturbing someone while they slept!
A large block of saturated color swayed before his eyes. Seeing him awake, it got bolder, tickling his nose with his own hair.
Xie Jianxun wrinkled his nose uncomfortably and turned his head aside.
Looking up, he saw Huo Jing sitting on the edge of his bed, his features the same as before.
“The young master is awake?”
Huo Jing chuckled, twirling a lock of his hair. “You’ve slept for hours without a peep from all the commotion. Impressive.”
“Uh, do you recognize me?”
He even leaned in closer for a better look, as if mocking Xie Jianxun’s just-woken daze.
Xie Jianxun: “…Huo, Huo Jing?!”
What the hell.
…
While Golden City escaped the King Insect crisis, that massive ship remained quietly stationed in the sky above.
Its surface was coated with a special paint that rendered it undetectable by any equipment, so Golden City’s air defenses never triggered. Everyone truly believed Huo Jing had left.
But he hadn’t. He ordered his fleet to hold position, waiting for a small transport ship to lift off from Desert Star before tailing it slowly from behind.
Yes, to a large starship, the transport ship’s seemingly swift speed was no more than an ant crawling.
Eventually, seeing it relax its guard, the large ship whooshed forward and appeared right in front of it.
Transport captain: “…”
Flight attendant: “…Mommy! What the hell is that?!”
They stood dumbfounded in the cockpit.
Beyond the forward viewport stretched the deep cosmos, now joined by a mysterious main ship that loomed before them, its massive maw yawning open like a whale ready to swallow everything.
After two seconds of stunned silence, the captain screamed hysterically.
“Quick, contact the Far Voyage Army! Hurry, hurry—we’ve been hit by space pirates!”
The co-pilot clasped their hands over their abdomen, expression blank and serene. “Even if the Far Voyage Army responds, by the time they get here, we’ll already be in the pirates’ bellies.”
The captain thought for two seconds and nodded in realization. “You’re right.”
Flight attendant: “…”
Flight attendant: “You two! At least put up a fight or something!”
But it was no use. The small transport ship was forcibly docked.
The pirates brazenly pried open the hatch, seized the cockpit, and made the three of them squat against the wall with hands on heads.
Then, the pirates rummaged through cabin after cabin for loot until they found a mysterious treasure on a small bunk in one room—a figure curled up under the blanket, cheeks faintly flushed in sleep.
They were about to yank the person up when the leader appeared at the back of the group, signaling them all to scram.
“This one… is our future new member.”
The leader said with a smile, meaningful and laced with a hint of malicious amusement, clearly anticipating Xie Jianxun’s reaction upon waking to see him.
“Don’t disturb his sweet dreams. We’ll welcome him with our ceremony once he’s up.”
The pirates exchanged knowing looks and left to loot elsewhere, leaving their leader alone to enter the cabin and sit on the bed’s edge.
Not content to sit still, he grew bored and began teasing Xie Jianxun with his hair.
Once the itching woke him, he’d lean in for the surprise.
Xie Jianxun sucked in a breath: “…”
Thanks a lot, whole damn crew!
He rolled upright in a flash, pressing back against the wall to maximize the distance.
If his memory served and the world logic held, Huo Jing shouldn’t have a ticket for this transport ship, right?
And it had already taken off?
So how did he get in—spacewalk?!
But the more he retreated, the more Huo Jing leaned forward until Xie Jianxun was flattened against the wall like a pitiful pancake.
Satisfied with the teasing, Huo Jing laughed, bending one leg and raising a brow. “Unhappy to see me?”
Xie Jianxun asked cautiously, “Didn’t you leave on your own ship?”
Huo Jing drawled lazily, “Couldn’t let go of you, so I turned back halfway.”
Xie Jianxun thought, without this curveball, he’d have woken up at the port by now!
Seeing no outrageous moves from him, Xie Jianxun lowered his guard.
He peeked at the door and asked, “So what are you doing up here? Where’s the captain? How’d they let you in?”
He still didn’t know Huo Jing’s true identity, only vaguely recalling he was some… uh, city lord?
Huo Jing lied smoothly. “You were asleep and missed it. This transport got hijacked by space pirates. The captain sent a distress call that our fleet intercepted. We’re on the same route anyway, so we saved you as a favor. The captain’s our guest on the ship now.”
The young man opposite him stared in disbelief, eyes flickering, his face practically screaming: You think I’m an idiot?
“Come on up and see. We’re serving a top-tier buffet dinner today—worth every penny.”
The pirate leader burst into laughter. He lunged forward suddenly, grabbing the blanket.
Xie Jianxun was caught off guard. The blanket wrapped around his head, then his whole body, bundling him up tight before Huo Jing scooped him into his arms!
Who the hell kidnaps someone without even asking!
The blanket was sturdy; he struggled but couldn’t land a kick on Huo Jing, only wearing himself out.
He said speechlessly, “Is this how you invite guests?”
Huo Jing didn’t care—in fact, the young master wrapped in his arms, hair disheveled, seemed even cuter. He bounced him contentedly; even through the blanket, Xie Jianxun felt so light.
“You’re too skinny. We’ll fatten you up later.”
Xie Jianxun glared, but Huo Jing just smiled back.
Now the pirate leader resembled a great lion with sleek fur, utterly content from head to toe.
He carried the bundled blanket to the cabin door and reminded him, “Once we’re out, people will greet you. Ignore them if you want.”
Xie Jianxun’s expression froze.
He struggled to extend one hand, yanking the Copper Pendant Necklace around Huo Jing’s neck, and said word by word, “There are people outside?”
Huo Jing hummed affirmatively. “My subordinates. Not many—just a dozen or so.”
…A dozen people waiting outside.
Watching him get carried out bundled like this!
Xie Jianxun wished he could faint on the spot. As the cabin door opened, he gave up struggling, pulled a corner of the blanket over his face, and closed his eyes serenely.
Huo Jing shifted his hold and, seeing the surrender, smiled enigmatically.
Sure enough, as the door opened, countless gazes snapped over.
One pirate teased boldly, “Boss, why’s the new member ignoring us? Not even showing his face?”
Huo Jing kicked him as he passed, drawling lazily, “He doesn’t want to, so he won’t.”
The others exchanged glances and followed.
Looks like the new recruit wasn’t eager to join, but the boss had the skills to drag him aboard anyway.
From that quick peek while searching the cabin, it was a pure, underage little lamb—gorgeous.
Wonder what fate awaited now that it had fallen into the Siphon Whale’s grasp.
Though Xie Jianxun was allowed to stay hidden, everyone along the path to the Captain’s Quarters on the Siphon Whale could see the soft, squishy bundle in their leader’s arms.
The off-duty pirates weren’t afraid of the boss and crowded close, trying to peek under the blanket.
“Boss, who’s this?”
“Why cover the face with a blanket? Let us see!”
“So shy—adorable. A boy? Can I buy him dinner and dance?”
Huo Jing’s responses were uniform: “New member.”
“He doesn’t like it.”
“Scram.”
Xie Jianxun despaired—how long was this hallway? Just end it already.
His bearer strolled back and forth, circling once, twice.
His stamina was terrifying; even carrying a full-grown person for half an hour didn’t tire him. He even chatted idly with those nearby.
Only the pirates knew: the boss was parading his shiny new treasure around the ship.
