Starfall Tower, hangar bay.
Qiji was packing necessary items for his journey and preparing to depart.
Ning Yu crept up from behind and hugged Qiji's waist.
"Brother Qiji! Hee hee, I'm so sorry about just now!!" Ning Yu said apologetically with a smile.
"It's good that you're alright," Qiji said coolly. "Let go."
Ning Yu released Qiji and turned to face him, kicking her feet and asking, "Brother Qiji, you saved me twice. How do you want me to repay you?"
"Just don't bother me again," Qiji replied without looking up, continuously stuffing items into his backpack.
"What if we never see each other again?" Ning Yu asked with a smile.
Qiji's hand, holding an item, froze by the backpack opening. His gaze drifted, and he slowly looked up at Ning Yu.
"If... then... then please don't be depressed anymore, okay?"
"Seeing you standing on the windowsill about to jump, I was really... I... I was really worried about you."
Ning Yu smiled sweetly, "I knew you'd say that. Okay, I promise!"
"If I get depressed again, I'll just think of that terribly ugly big stuffed toy you gave me, haha!"
Qiji's face flushed, and he murmured, "You actually accepted it..."
"Of course! As a return gift, here's this for you!"
Ning Yu generously handed over a very light jacket, so light it was almost transparent.
Qiji took it and touched it.
The jacket was very light but remarkably tough.
"What's it for?" Qiji asked, confused.
Ning Yu smiled and explained, "It's a protective garment made of future tech resonance material. When the force exceeds... ah... a certain amount, it automatically hardens."
"Don't underestimate it, it can block bullets and melee weapons!"
"For the specific principles, perhaps Master understands... I only know how to use it, hee hee."
Qiji nodded and naturally put it into his bag.
"You're just taking it? Without even a thank you?" Ning Yu asked in surprise.
Qiji immediately looked up, reached out, and patted Ning Yu's little head, saying with a smile, "Pat the dog's head, and worries will flee."
Ning Yu immediately got angry, "Hey! Is that your thank you?"
Qiji chuckled, "My mother often patted my head like this when I was little."
"Qiji—!! Let's go!!" Bai Zhanhen shouted from a distance.
"Okay!!" Qiji shouted back.
Ning Yu quickly raised her hand and also patted Qiji's head, smiling, "Then I'll pat your head too, worries will flee, hee hee!"
Qiji nodded, gazing at Ning Yu's sweet little face, and said, "Let's go!"
With that, he slung his pack over his shoulder and pressed the mecha activation button.
The automatic lifting arm descended rapidly. Qiji grabbed the arm and leaped into the mecha cockpit.
The external armor of the cockpit quickly closed.
The back-mounted thrusters immediately let out a deafening roar.
A warm gust of air swept through the entire hangar bay, scattering Ning Yu's short hair.
Qiji's mecha turned to look at Ning Yu, raised its mechanical right hand, and gave her a "goodbye" gesture.
It immediately turned direction and, following Bai Zhanhen's mecha, rocketed out of the hangar.
"Little Yu, let's go too!" Liang Yuwei called from a distance.
Ning Yu gazed at Qiji's mecha until it was completely out of sight, then turned to find Liang Yuwei.
At this moment, Wuji entered from outside the hangar and asked Liang Yuwei, "What's up?"
"Gu Ya has assigned tasks, so we have to part ways for now," Liang Yuwei explained.
Wuji nodded silently.
Liang Yuwei asked, "Where were you? I didn't see you around earlier."
"Just checking on the defenses of Shanhai City," Wuji replied calmly, casually picking up a miniature spider robot from his right shoulder.
He turned to look behind him.
In the distance behind him, Ning Yu flinched, stuck out her little tongue, and gave a cute, apologetic smile.
Wuji tilted his head and placed the spider robot back on his shoulder.
Liang Yuwei asked curiously, "Why?"
Wuji stated calmly, "Thinking about how to counterattack the enemy during a defensive battle."
"Shanhai City's location is very disadvantageous for defense. And the best defense is proactive offense."
"You understand military strategy too," Liang Yuwei marveled.
Wuji nodded, furrowed his brow, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of items.
He opened his hand, and dozens of miniature spider robots quickly scuttled out, crawling up his long, slender arm and all over his body.
Liang Yuwei couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine at the sight.
Wuji, however, remained composed.
Ning Yu quickly ran over, waved her hand, and recalled the little spiders, saying awkwardly, "Sorry, they multiplied when I got excited..."
"It's alright, little sister's way of greeting is quite... unique."
"By the way, did Gu Ya not assign me any tasks?"
Liang Yuwei replied, "Not yet. I think your presence in Shanhai City will be more useful."
"Alright, we're leaving too! Ning Yu, your mecha!"
Ning Yu waved her small hand, and a transport-type mecha appeared behind everyone.
"Brother Wuji, farewell for now!"
"Bye-bye, Wuji idol!"
The two grabbed the handrails and flew into the mechas, soaring away on the wind.
Two days later,
Gu Ya successfully woke up.
During this consciousness recall, Gu Ya had retained his consciousness for several hours, causing a slight disorientation between his brain and consciousness upon waking.
He tried to move his index finger, but his ring finger moved instead.
Fortunately, this situation would resolve itself within a few hours.
Gu Ya sat propped up on his bed, obediently opening his mouth to drink the thin white congee Ye Ying handed him.
Because his body hadn't ingested food for a long time,
The first meal had to be a liquid diet, otherwise, his stomach would suffer from unbearable pain due to "binge eating."
Wuji pushed open the door and walked in softly, sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Brother Wuji, what is it?" Gu Ya asked softly.
Wuji asked, "Why didn't you assign me anything?"
Gu Ya briefly explained his future plans to Wuji,
And added, "You will be of great use later."
Wuji listened, then fell into deep thought for a long time,
Until Gu Ya had slowly finished the bowl of white congee.
Wuji then asked, "Why go through all this trouble?"
"You could have directly piloted a Xianxia mecha and invaded a city in the Black Star Empire. That would also have led to war between the two countries."
Gu Ya shook his head gently and said softly, "No, it's not as simple as you imagine."
"The Black Star Empire invaded Xianxia for military reconnaissance. Aside from dispatching troops to drive them away and condemning them internationally, Xianxia took no substantive action."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I suspect Xianxia doesn't want war anymore."
"If we piloted Xianxia mechas to invade Black Star cities, Xianxia would immediately distance themselves from us."
"Even to avoid drawing the flames of war to their homeland, Xianxia would publicly disclose our information and begin targeting us."
"At that point, the world's first and second-largest powers would both consider us enemies."
Wuji listened and nodded slightly, continuing to ponder.
Ye Ying held a white handkerchief and gently wiped the rice grains from Gu Ya's lips.
Gu Ya affectionately held Ye Ying's hand and said softly, "After a few more hours, when I can move freely, you should go rest. I'll watch over you then."
Ye Ying nodded. She really wanted to throw herself into Gu Ya's arms right now,
But constrained by the presence of others, she quietly showed him a coquettish expression.
Wuji said, "If the whole world is dragged into the vortex of war, Xianxia will definitely not stand idly by."
Gu Ya replied, "The whole world isn't necessary. My strategy is to consolidate allies, court potential partners, and rally Black Star's peripheral colonies, all under the banner of Xianxia, to jointly resist Black Star."
"This will keep Black Star preoccupied and Xianxia speechless."
Wuji heard this and a smile of exquisite beauty appeared on his face.
"It seems I must also do my part."
"Gu Ya, I will return to my country immediately and lead my people to raise the flag of resistance against Black Star with you!"
With that, Wuji stood up and adjusted his cat-ear mask.
"Nationals?" Gu Ya frowned.
Wuji said with pity, "Although my country was annexed by Black Star, my people are not dead, and I am not dead. They have always supported me."
"Now, it is time to take up arms again!"
"Gu Ya, when you need me most, I will appear."
Wuji flung his black cloak open, turned with a flourish, and walked towards the door.
Gu Ya called out, trying to stop him, "Brother Wuji! Who exactly are you..."
Wuji turned, gave Gu Ya a firm, serious smile, and quickly walked out of the room.
Looking at the empty doorway, Gu Ya sighed softly and murmured, "So everyone's gone now..."
"I'm still here."
Ye Ying finally waited for this moment, snuggling into Gu Ya's embrace, enjoying her lover's comforting warmth.
Gu Ya could finally gently stroke Ye Ying's hair.
Not long after, Ye Ying's soft snores came from his embrace; she had fallen asleep.
Gu Ya gently carried Ye Ying to the bed and covered her with the blanket.
As he finished, his communicator rang.
Xian Wangchuan said with a smile, "Gu Ya, we have arrived in Shanhai City."
"You absolutely won't guess who else is here besides me."