Ch 130: The Cannon Fodder Won’t Play Along Anymore [QT]

Ten years later.

First Federal Legion.

Today the atmosphere was unusually lively, because the Second Legion, which had been stationed on Iya Star in the previous rotation, was finally returning. This time, it was the First Legion’s turn!

But the First Legion had millions of troops, while Iya Star only required twenty thousand soldiers. The competition was undoubtedly fierce.

To ensure fairness—or rather, because of the strong demands of ordinary soldiers—the candidates for Iya Star were chosen randomly by the main StarNet system from all who signed up.

It was time to test their luck!

“I just recharged the highest VIP membership for fifty years yesterday, surely they’ll give me a slot?”

“Two hundred thousand out of nine million, this is my only hope. I really hope I get it.” One soldier clasped his hands nervously.

Five years ago, Iya Star opened to tourism.

However, despite the planet’s vast size, only one hundred thousand people were permitted entry per day, and on holidays it was closed!

Have you ever seen a tourist site that doesn’t open on holidays?

But Iya Star was just that willful, because it didn’t charge fees.

Mu Xing’s exact words were: “Iya Star being what it is today is inseparable from the support of all those viewers in the live streams.”

So he would not profit from it.

But at the same time, choosing to visit Iya Star meant abiding by its notoriously strict rules.

A hundred thousand sounds like a lot. But how many people are vying for those slots?

The entire interstellar realm, across multiple star systems, with a population in the hundreds of billions.

From the moment Mu Xing appeared like a god descending, performing miraculous feats of flower cultivation, to now, a full ten years had passed.

But in these ten years, Iya Star remained the only place in the galaxy covered in blossoms.

Elsewhere, flowers were still rare, precious, expensive—national treasures.

Ever since Iya Star opened to tourism, the application system had been perpetually overloaded.

It could be said that if someone were lucky enough to win one of those tourist slots and chose to auction it off, they could instantly transform from a poor man into a millionaire.

Of course, no one had ever chosen to give up such a precious chance.

For the people of the galaxy, Iya Star was like a dream—beautiful and surreal. Who wouldn’t want to see it with their own eyes?

The great federal legions, through their cooperation with Iya Star, had one extra channel to experience it—being selected for permanent garrison duty.

That way, they could be stationed on Iya Star for five years, and during rest periods, they were allowed to tour freely.

Compared to the randomly assigned one-day visitors, they were undoubtedly much luckier.

It was just… getting chosen was really difficult.

Every five years, when the rotation came, the great legions turned into massive superstition arenas, with all sorts of strange methods appearing.

Not only the soldiers—even many senior officers competed fiercely for those commander slots.

And each time, they would mention one particular man, in a tone mixed with envy, jealousy, and gnashing teeth:

“How is Han Jing so clever? While we’re still struggling to grab slots, he just went and married into Iya Star!”

Two years ago, a wedding was streamed live in Iya’s broadcast room.

The couple was Mu Xing’s sister Mu Yue, and Han Jing—the very man Mu Xing almost mistook for a scoundrel back on Red Moon Star.

Mu Xing himself found it strange. One was reserved, deep, never showing emotions; the other was open-hearted and transparent. Back on Red Moon Star a decade earlier, they hadn’t shown a single spark.

Yet who would have thought, after circling around, they had both apprenticed under the same painting master—and eventually tied the knot.

Mu Xing hosted a grand wedding for them on Iya Star.

That dreamlike wedding was still fondly remembered even now.

Of course, as the groom, Han Jing was without a doubt the one people resented most: not only had he won the heart of a great beauty, but most importantly—he married Mu Xing’s sister!

That made him half an Iya Star native at least.

As long as he wished, he could visit Iya Star and its flowers anytime!

Envy to the point of tears!

*

Mu Qingqing stared at the glowing words on her screen: “Congratulations, you have obtained one Iya Star one-day tour ticket.”

Her heart was filled with complicated emotions.

She had grown much more low-key these past years. Mu Lin, because of the events of back then, had been convicted and sent to interstellar prison for a time. When he came out, he was a broken man.

It wasn’t just that prison had worn him down. More importantly—he had lost everything he had spent decades building.

The Mu family would never let him return to management. He couldn’t even dream of appearing before the public again. For a man obsessed with fame and power, there was no greater blow.

Still, they were the Mu family after all. Although not as glorious as before, and sometimes subjected to strange looks, constantly compared unfavorably with Mu Rongrong’s household, they still lived comfortably enough.

Occasionally, Mu Qingqing thought about it—how similar their current lives were to those of Aunt Mu Rongrong’s family over a decade ago.

The difference was that her aunt’s family truly had no ambitions, wanting only a quiet life, while her own family had been forced into premature retirement.

Mu Qingqing could still recall vividly the twisted look on her father’s face when he learned that Mu Rongrong’s family had refused the Mu clan’s invitation and insisted on cutting ties with the main branch forever.

All the things he had schemed for, all the things he guarded so jealously against Mu Rongrong—she had never wanted them, never cared, even despised them.

That realization had crushed him into illness.

Mu Qingqing faced nothing but her lifeless father and gloomy mother every time she went home.

It made her miserable.

The ticket before her eyes was a sweet temptation.

Everyone who had been to Iya Star said that their greatest dream in life was to go there once more.

Before its green mountains, clear waters, and fields blanketed with flowers, all worries could vanish in an instant.

She wanted to see it too.

But she was hesitant. That was where Mu Rongrong’s family lived.

Though tourists were randomly dropped into different areas, what if she happened to meet Mu Rongrong?

She had once looked down on her aunt’s family, said countless cutting things. They must hold a grudge, right?

Now that she was fallen so low, if they met again, she would surely be ridiculed.

After struggling for a long while, Mu Qingqing clenched her teeth and went to see Xiao Jinwei.

In her life, Xiao Jinwei had always been a very important figure.

Mu Lin was always busy. From childhood onward, it was Xiao Jinwei who had taught and accompanied her.

Now Xiao Jinwei and Mu Lin were living apart—she was a proud woman, and that pride made her deeply disdainful of her husband for once taking the potion from her hand and striking at Mu Rongrong’s unborn child.

If not for the political marriage between their families, a tie difficult to openly sever, she would never have tolerated Mu Lin.

When she learned her daughter’s intention, Xiao Jinwei raised her brows in surprise. “Why not go?”

Mu Qingqing hesitated. “I’m afraid…”

“Afraid of meeting Mu Rongrong’s family?” Xiao Jinwei asked.

Mu Qingqing nodded.

Xiao Jinwei pressed further. “Afraid they’ll look down on you?”

Mu Qingqing nodded again.

“Mu Qingqing!” Xiao Jinwei called her name sternly. “How did I teach you since childhood? Put away that timid look. Lift your head, straighten your back!”

By instinct, Mu Qingqing struck her most confident, graceful pose. This was what Xiao Jinwei had drilled into her since she was little: at all times, remain poised and elegant.

“Your father wronged her. I once mocked her family too. But you—you never did anything against them.”

Even now, Xiao Jinwei didn’t think she was wrong. “I despised her. With such good conditions, yet no ambition at all, just wasting her life at home. In my eyes, that’s trash.”

She paused before speaking more softly. “Of course, whether I despise her or not, she doesn’t care. For her to abandon the Mu family’s vast inheritance without a blink… such strength of mind, I cannot match.”

“Go. Why wouldn’t you? Go see the cherry blossoms, the wintersweet, the crabapple, go see the most beautiful planet of our stars… Be confident.” Xiao Jinwei’s tone eased as she pulled her daughter close and touched the top of her head. “This is a rare chance. That boy Mu Xing…”

Thinking of Mu Xing she had watched in live streams all these years, her tone could not help but reveal a trace of envy. “That woman Mu Rongrong is truly lucky.”

*

In the end, Mu Qingqing chose to go to Iya Star.

After the inspection, she boarded the starship bound there.

The ship was full of lucky ones who had drawn tickets. Upon arrival, tourists would be randomly divided into groups of a hundred and scattered across the planet.

So no one knew where they would be placed or what scenery they would see.

Mu Qingqing was beautiful. Her manners showed her good upbringing, and soon someone invited her to join.

She chose a group mostly of young people.

Before long, they arrived at Iya Star’s spaceport and transferred to small hovercraft.

For the first time, Mu Qingqing saw with her own eyes, from the sky, the so-called “dream planet.”

The hovercraft flew low, and beneath stretched vast seas of flowers in every color.

Around her, excited voices rose.

“We’re so lucky! Iya Star planted so many cherry trees, peach and pear groves too. It’s March, the perfect blooming season.”

“That whole stretch of pink—is that cherry blossom?”

“Not sure, maybe peach?”

“If I could choose, I’d rather come in June. I love lotus flowers.”

“Winter’s the most beautiful! Snowfall, red plum blossoms—just imagining makes me want to cry.”

“I brought a trunk full of dresses and my smart little robot valet. I’ll change into all of them for photos…”

“….”

Mu Qingqing rested her chin on her hand, half-dozing while surrounded by the cheerful chatter.

She had once been the pampered young lady who only traveled on private starships, scorning such noisy, vulgar transport. Yet now, under the warm spring sunlight, with a faint floral scent carried by the wind, even the bustling voices around her didn’t irritate her.

Perhaps such enchanting scenery could really soothe the heart, making even one’s temper infinitely more forgiving.

“Wow!”

“Why does this place look so familiar?”

The exclamations broke her light doze.

She opened her eyes just as the hovercraft began to descend.

Excited voices filled the air.

“Oh my god, we’re too lucky!”

“Isn’t this where Xingxing lives?”

“No way—no way—so this trip to Iya Star, I can see the Miracle Rose, visit Mai Mai park, maybe even meet Xingxing?”

“Just thinking about it makes me feel like I’m about to suffocate.”

“……”

Amidst the lively joy, only Mu Qingqing’s smile froze stiffly at the corners of her lips.

Her thoughts in turmoil, she followed the crowd off the hovercraft. Looking at that familiar building, her mind raced in panic: how could it be such a coincidence? In such a vast Iya Star, why was she sent right here?

She put on a pink little hat, quietly comforting herself. It was fine. Even if she came here, she might not run into Mu Xing.

Everyone knew Mu Xing, because of his health, rarely left the house apart from his daily live broadcasts.

But when she thought about why Mu Xing’s health was so poor… Mu Qingqing’s face grew hot.

Although technically she didn’t owe Mu Xing anything now, Mu Qingqing still felt a twinge of guilt.

The group of visitors bustled toward the Mu family estate, wanting to try knocking and see if they could get in.

Afraid of actually running into the Mu family, Mu Qingqing dared not follow. She kept along the white stone path beneath her feet, walking for more than ten minutes until she came upon a beautiful green fairy statue.

It was Mai Mai Park.

The first park built on Iya Star, and also voted by viewers across the star network as one of the must-see attractions of Iya Star.

Setting aside the possible awkwardness of seeing her aunt’s family, Mu Qingqing thought, my luck really isn’t bad.

Today there should only be their batch of tourists here, and since the others were all crowded around the Mu family villa, Mai Mai Park was quiet at this moment.

Before she even stepped in, she felt a refreshing coolness around her. The air that filled her nose carried a sweet fragrance that was soothing to the soul.

She couldn’t tell what flowers the scent came from, but it made her heart lighten and brighten.

Tall trees arched overhead, forming a natural green corridor. The ground was very clean, and the crisp chirping of birds could be heard in her ears.

Mu Qingqing knew this place, and recognized the gardenias lining both sides of the road that had not yet bloomed.

She also clearly remembered: following this road forward, then turning left at the first intersection, there would be a beautiful large lake. When summer came, it would be full of blooming lotus flowers.

Unfortunately, there were no lotuses yet at this time…

That fleeting disappointment instantly vanished when she turned the corner.

She stood still, dumbfounded by the sight before her.

The vast lake had been dyed a sea of pink.

Endless cherry blossom trees were in full bloom, branches overflowing with delicate petals. When the wind blew, it sent down a fluttering shower of blossoms, falling across the grass, drifting onto the lake.

Mu Qingqing was not someone who could be considered “poorly read,” but at this moment she truly could only gape, mouth slightly open, eyes blank, utterly speechless.

She felt as though she were intoxicated.

Enchanted by this dreamlike, wondrous scene.

What pulled her out was a low voice speaking.

It was a man’s voice, indistinct, but not too far away.

Curious, she walked over, rounded a few trees, and saw a slender man.

Sensing movement, the man looked over: even in March he wore a loose sweater. Soft black curls and a warm goose-yellow knit made him look like an unripe youth.

Beneath the curls was a pair of features as though painted, skin paler than most, and in the sunlight faintly translucent.

This man, appearing amid the sea of cherry blossoms, was so strikingly beautiful that the word “fairy” popped into Mu Qingqing’s mind.

But at the same time, her face went pale.

Because this was a face she knew well.

Not just her—surely the entire interstellar world would not mistake him: the master of Iya Star, the man famed as possessing the “Hand of God,” Mu Xing.

Mu Xing was chatting with the little Iya beings. Now there were tens of thousands of them on Iya Star. Outsiders always thought he was lonely, but how could they understand the joy of raising a whole host of little fairies?

Hearing someone approach, he turned his head—and saw a pretty young girl staring blankly at him.

A stranger, at this moment…

Mu Xing quickly realized, and smiled: “Hello, are you one of the tourists visiting Iya Star today?”

It wasn’t strange he didn’t recognize Mu Qingqing. Back when the original Mu Xing still lived on the main star, he hadn’t met this cousin often. For Mu Xing now, she was even less familiar.

And after ten years apart, Mu Qingqing’s appearance had changed a lot. Not recognizing her was perfectly natural.

He really didn’t recognize her?

Mu Qingqing knew in her heart it would be best to also pretend not to know him and quickly leave.

This should have been the encounter she long anticipated, but when Mu Xing truly failed to recognize her, she felt a suffocating frustration in her chest, unwilling to accept it.

Gritting her teeth, she said: “Mu Xing, you can’t even recognize me?”

Mu Xing looked at her in puzzlement. After a long pause, he finally overlapped the girl before him with a faint image in his memory.

“So it’s Cousin.” Mu Xing smiled. “Sorry, it’s been years, and you’ve grown even more beautiful. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

He felt no dislike toward Mu Qingqing. In the original memories, this cousin had always been a proud little peacock. She ignored him, but she never harmed him.

His manner was so natural, even warm, that Mu Qingqing felt ill at ease.

Awkwardly, she asked: “You don’t hate me? Don’t resent me?”

Mu Xing simply waved his hand. “Let’s not talk about that. With such beauty before us, if you insist on such dull topics, I’ll have no choice but to ask the steward to take you elsewhere to enjoy the sights.”

“Just the thought of it makes me feel like I can’t breathe.”

“……”

Mu Qingqing had a bellyful of words stuck at the tip of her tongue.

She only heard Mu Xing say, “Some things have already passed, and I’ve forgotten them. Why let them linger and bring myself needless trouble?”

The young man, much younger than herself, had eyes bright with light. “Is our Iya Star not beautiful enough? Why would you still be brooding over such useless things?”

Mu Qingqing froze where she stood. She watched that tall, slender figure slowly walk away, and at last her own eyes began to shine.

*

She never saw Mu Xing again. She only watched his livestreams on the StarNet every day.

Her younger cousin grew older year after year, yet instead of being worn down into vulgarity and worldliness, his aura became ever purer and more ethereal.

He never married. On the StarNet, there were countless men and women crying out every day that they wanted to marry him.

But everyone felt that for such a man, not marrying was the natural course. For when they tried to imagine it, no one could picture what kind of woman or man Mu Xing might come to love.

What kind of person could ever be worthy of him?

How could ordinary mortals match someone like an immortal—someone like Mu Xing?

Mu Xing lived for two hundred years.

Mu Yue, fearing her younger brother would be lonely, moved the whole family to live on Iya Star. Her daughter had always liked this young uncle since she was little, always clinging to him. When she grew up, she refused to leave, choosing to remain on Iya Star.

Later, Mu Xing handed Iya Star over to her and set down a decree.

From his generation onward, no owner of Iya Star was ever to use it for profit, never to destroy a single flower or blade of grass, never to damage its environment.

If anyone did, they would be stripped of their ownership, and Iya Star would return under Federation jurisdiction.

This one-of-a-kind paradise of the stars would cease to exist.

The document was delivered to the Federation and the StarNet, and publicly posted online, so that all people of the stars might see it and supervise together.

The Iya still harbored wariness toward humans. Mu Xing never told anyone, not even his favored niece, anything about the Iya people.

His mind was clear: if the fate existed, if affinity allowed, then one day these little Iya would find another human they liked.

Or perhaps, one day, they would truly live in peace together with humans beneath the vast starry sky.

But he would not live to see it.

As his lifespan neared its end, Mu Xing faintly sensed it.

His spirit weakened, he grew drowsy, always lacking strength.

The symptoms resembled when he had first entered this body long ago—except back then it was weakness, and now, it was the body’s very life force reaching its end.

The Iya sensed it too.

They became clingier than ever, pressing close to Mu Xing every day, dancing for him, making flowers bloom out of season, all to cheer him.

Sometimes, when Mu Xing grew hazy with sleep and drifted off, they would softly rouse him—for they feared that if he fell asleep, he would never wake again.

Mu Xing always soothed them calmly. “All humans come to this day. When I die, let them cremate me and bury my ashes beneath the earth. Then I will turn into nourishment underground, and the next year, I will return with the blooming flowers.”

“Don’t be sad. Every spring, I’ll come back with the wind to see you.”

*

That day still arrived in the end.

When Mu Xing closed his eyes and lost all life, faint sobs echoed in his ears.

The StarNet collapsed under the weight of the news; countless people could not accept it.

On Iya Star, every flower withered in that instant. The grief of the Iya plunged the blooming world into silence. For a whole year, not a single flower blossomed.

Until the following spring, when the breeze of hope brushed across the land, and a tender forsythia trembled and stretched its petals wide.

The Iya remembered Mu Xing’s words: Every spring, I will come back with the wind to see you.

Please do not weep for me.

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