Before trouble struck, they were all good brothers and sisters, as close as family, inseparable. Once trouble arrived, it was a case of every man for himself, with no one caring about anyone else!
Seeing they were at a disadvantage, the space pirates scattered in all directions. Although Xing Yuan wanted to pursue them, there were too many. She had no chance of capturing them all. So, after casually dispatching a few, she turned and piloted her mecha back to Yu Hua Nan's spaceship.
Yu Hua Nan's eyes held undisguised admiration as he praised, "Your mental power level must be S-class, right? Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to control Jin Nan so smoothly."
"Something like that! Now that I've dealt with these people for you, you should fulfill your promise," Xing Yuan said, tossing Yu Hua Nan's neural computer back and seating herself on a chair like royalty.
"Of course!" Yu Hua Nan chuckled, then sternly addressed his subordinates, "What are you waiting for? Record some evidence. Send one copy to me, and keep one for yourselves to claim bounties."
Yu Hua Nan didn't doubt that his brother would make a move against him. Their father had many illegitimate children, and it was natural for some of them to harbor foolish ambitions, thinking that overthrowing him would lead to their father's favor. How naive, to be used as a pawn without even realizing it.
Yu Hua Nan intended to win Xing Yuan over. Even on the main planet, individuals with S-class mental power were rare. To outsiders, his position seemed unshakeable, but he knew deep down that his father was quite dissatisfied with him.
"Did you go to the main planet because your home is there, or do you have acquaintances? Were you also framed and sent to the garbage planet?" Yu Hua Nan mused aloud.
"If you've been to the main planet, you should have heard of me. My father has cultivated a good reputation for me, yet few have actually met me. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Xing Yuan asked curiously. It made sense; in her past memories, she had indeed never seen this person.
"Because! The future heir to the Duke's mansion has never been just one person. We are all trained through various means, and only the strongest among us can truly inherit the title." As he spoke, Yu Hua Nan's expression grew melancholic.
Of course, none of them brothers were allowed to kill each other during the assessments. If their father found out, they would be immediately disqualified. That's why he suspected one of his illegitimate brothers was behind this incident.
Xing Yuan fell into thought. Come to think of it, she seemed to be in a similar situation. She was chosen because of her powerful mental energy. There were others chosen and raised under his care at the same time, but some met with accidents and perished, while others were unremarkable.
In the end, she was the one who fared the best! Hence, she was selected.
"Your father... is quite an interesting character," Xing Yuan said, looking at him with a peculiar glint in her eyes.
"But you should look quite alike, right? Even if you deliberately avoid being seen, there are bound to be slip-ups. A dignified Duke would surely consider that possibility," Xing Yuan speculated.
"Yes! We do look very much alike." Yu Hua Nan nodded. Though they were mere acquaintances, he felt an unusual urge to confide in her.
"We are from the same mother, and our relationship was quite good back then. But I haven't seen my two brothers for several years now," Yu Hua Nan sighed, his eyes filled with sadness.
Xing Yuan remained silent.
A month later, Yu Hua Nan's ship stopped at a planet adjacent to the main planet.
Yu Hua Nan explained with evident apology, "I'm sorry! You'll probably have to hitch a ride from here. We have an agreement not to appear in the same place until the victor is decided. My second brother is currently on the main planet, and my father wouldn't allow me to return either."
"However, I'm very glad to have met you. If you don't mind, could you add me to your contacts? If you encounter any trouble in the future, don't hesitate to tell me. I am, after all, a young master of the Duke's mansion, and I can help you resolve some minor issues."
"Alright!" Xing Yuan took out her neural computer and added Yu Hua Nan's contact information.
Her neural computer had been severely damaged in the last battle, with only its information storage function remaining. She would have to get a replacement once she returned to the main planet.
"However, there is a small problem right now that I hope Young Master Yu can help me with," Xing Yuan said, a little embarrassed.
"Could you lend me some money for the fare? I'm practically penniless right now." Even the cleverest cook cannot prepare a meal without ingredients. She was so close to returning; she couldn't falter at this hurdle!
"My dear lady, I am happy to be of service," Yu Hua Nan smiled, bowing to Xing Yuan with a standard noble gesture.
Xing Yuan's face instantly turned cold: Thanks for the invitation! Please remove the word "dear." How could she, so fierce and imposing, be called cute?
Yu Hua Nan gave a look to the subordinate beside him, who understood and produced a low-grade neural computer.
Yu Hua Nan took the neural computer and introduced it, "This is a small gadget I prepared earlier. I noticed your neural computer seemed damaged. This one, though it only has basic functions like calling and transferring money, contains two hundred thousand interstellar credits, which should be enough for you to get by until you find your companions."
Xing Yuan accepted it without hesitation. When sleep comes, a pillow is delivered. She politely said,
"Thanks! A drop of kindness, repaid with a gushing spring. If you ever encounter trouble that requires force to resolve, just come find me. I can't guarantee anything else, but if it's something that can be solved with force, I promise I can handle it for you."
"Then, I thank you in advance." Yu Hua Nan had gained an S-class friendship and smiled brilliantly. It was worth the effort of taking a detour from afar.
Someone with S-class mental power would never be ordinary. Perhaps now they were merely a tiger fallen into a plain, and he, offering help in times of need, was better than adding flowers to an already brocade.
Xing Yuan had no interest in the intricate thoughts flashing through Yu Hua Nan's mind during this time. After she had finally managed to send him off, she immediately headed to the train station at top speed. Sister, here I come.
That's right. From the moment Xing Yuan entered this world, she knew the person she was looking for was on the main planet. Because her body was entwined with that person's aura, an aura that could only be possessed by someone who spent their days together.
And that person had an exceptionally regular routine. The only ones who could spend their days with her were her colleagues in the military. So, how could this good news not excite Xing Yuan?
Buying a ticket, entering the station. Xing Yuan successfully used a forged identity created by hacking the train system to deceive everyone. She successfully smuggled herself onto the main planet.
The first thing she did upon arriving at the main planet was to find the most intelligent person in the military to discuss strategies with. And the smartest person in the military was her chief negotiator.