Section 41
Bai Linan had finally begun to grasp the temperament of his new master. This young, unsmiling, perpetually cold-faced man who often lost himself in thought clearly valued decisiveness and tangible action. Flattery and sycophancy, on the other hand, had no effect on him. While he never openly displayed disgust, Bai Linan could keenly sense his impatience with such empty words. Yes, impatience! As for hierarchical distinctions, his new master paid them no mind. Yet, Bai Linan dared not show the slightest disrespect.
What a strange man!
But Bai Linan was shrewd. Realizing Ye Zhong had no taste for flattery, he adapted accordingly, abandoning his old obsequious ways and instead handling matters with efficiency, reliability, and precision. Ye Zhong, still somewhat inexperienced, gradually came to appreciate this change. If One-Eye were still alive and could see Bai Linan acting so earnestly, his single eye would likely pop out in disbelief!
“Sir, they’ve probably chased toward Red Star Beach,” Bai Linan said respectfully. “They’d never expect us to cross the Asteroid Belt and head for Renault.” Bai Linan had grown deeply impressed with Ye Zhong. Over the past few days, Ye Zhong had dedicated himself to mastering starship piloting with an intensity that bordered on self-torture, far beyond what Bai Linan had imagined possible.
To Ye Zhong, this level of training was nothing unusual. With no one to guide him, he had no choice but to rely on his own experimentation, applying techniques from piloting mechas—and surprisingly, the results were remarkable. His starship piloting skills advanced by leaps and bounds.
It was only after witnessing Ye Zhong’s exceptionally skilled piloting that Bai Linan dared to propose such a bold plan. Ye Zhong, in turn, found the suggestion sound. Meanwhile, the pursuing pirates, observing Ye Zhong’s course toward Red Star Beach, assumed he intended to refuel and resupply there. Confident in their deduction, they pushed forward at full speed while also calling on allied pirate groups near Red Star Beach for assistance.
News of the Red奇鹰 Pirate Leader’s assassination amid heavy guard and the theft of his flagship spread like wildfire, stirring up a frenzy among the pirate community. Soon, countless individuals flocked to Red Star Beach, eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious expert capable of single-handedly assassinating the leader of a renowned pirate group like Red奇鹰 and escaping with his ship.
According to Tiezi, the third-in-command of Red奇鹰, he had witnessed One-Eye being killed in just three moves by this mysterious assailant! Instantly, the assassin’s reputation skyrocketed, and curiosity reached a fever pitch. One-Eye had been widely recognized as a master, excelling in both mecha combat and hand-to-hand fighting. The fact that he was defeated in mere moments left everyone astounded.
Many pirate leaders began to scheme: if they could recruit such a top-tier assassin into their ranks, no one would dare provoke them again. Driven by this thought, they rushed to Red Star Beach, hoping to seize the opportunity and net this prized catch.
While everyone was狂热 over Ye Zhong, he followed Bai Linan’s advice and veered into the Asteroid Belt mid-journey.
Bai Linan swore to himself that he would never again venture within ten kilometers of the Asteroid Belt. It was an absolute nightmare! The relentless sight of bizarrely shaped asteroids looming larger and larger, as if hurtling directly toward them, created an indescribable pressure. Bai Linan’s fragile nerves and heart were pushed to their limits. And when he saw Ye Zhong’s excited expression, eyes gleaming with fervor, he could only regret ever suggesting such a disastrous idea.
The once majestic and imposing flagship of the famed Red奇鹰 leader, after enduring a hailstorm of asteroids, was now battered and scarred, its surface pockmarked and ugly beyond recognition. Even if Tiezi stood before this wreck, he would never recognize it as the very ship he had modified under his leader’s orders.
The starship’s performance, however, far exceeded Ye Zhong’s expectations. An ordinary vessel would have been destroyed long ago under such punishing conditions. Though the pirate ship’s exterior was a mess, its internal structure remained completely intact.
When they finally emerged safely from the Asteroid Belt, Bai Linan collapsed onto the carpet, drenched in sweat. Ye Zhong, meanwhile, remained unfazed, even casting a somewhat wistful glance back at the receding Asteroid Belt. Catching this expression, Bai Linan felt a sudden urge to leap off the ship right then and there.
Fortunately, Ye Zhong did not turn back but instead set course for the nearest supply point, Renault, following the star chart. Bai Linan, heaving a sigh of relief, finally relaxed.
“Sir, we’ve reached Renault. Where should we head next?” Bai Linan asked.
Ye Zhong shook his head and tossed the question back to him. “I’m not familiar with this area. What do you suggest?”
After a moment of thought, Bai Linan replied, “Sir, news of you killing One-Eye has surely spread by now. I’m afraid many leaders are waiting for you to show yourself.”
Ye Zhong looked puzzled. “Wait for me? Why?”
Bai Linan smiled wryly. “What faction wouldn’t want to recruit a master like you? The moment you appear, they’ll swarm you, probably resorting to any means necessary.”
Ye Zhong snorted coldly, his eyes sharpening. Without a word, he drew his dagger and began gently polishing the blade.
A chill ran down Bai Linan’s spine. He could only hope those fools would know better—otherwise, the consequences would be dire. He didn’t dare dwell on it further.
After a moment’s consideration, Ye Zhong removed the yellow-black patterned undersuit he had taken from Bai Linan and handed it back to him. “Be careful,” he said simply.
Bai Linan felt a surge of emotion, tears nearly welling in his eyes. The concern in Ye Zhong’s understated tone moved him deeply. Even One-Eye, who had treated him best, had never shown genuine care for his well-being. If One-Eye had known about the protective undersuit, he would have taken it for himself without a second thought—he certainly wouldn’t have given it back. For years, Bai Linan had grown accustomed to being a nobody, his life of little consequence to anyone. If not for his strategic value to One-Eye, he would have been discarded in some forgotten corner long ago. Though he had eventually risen to become the second-in-command of Red奇鹰, his life was far from glamorous—constantly ordered around by his leader, disdained by his subordinates, and opposed by Tiezi. Never before had he encountered someone who genuinely cared whether he lived or died.
Holding the undersuit in his hands, Bai Linan felt a complex mix of emotions. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with joy, “Sir, I know where we should go!”