Part 3
He wore sunglasses, hair meticulously styled to suit that face. His black T-shirt was basic and low-key, but his accessories weren’t—like the glittering necklace, the doll on his belt, and the expensive sneakers hidden under the brake.
His brow bone was three-dimensional, nose bridge high. The sunglasses hid his eyes, revealing a sharp jawline. He looked as arrogant as a superstar who claimed half the headlines—extremely punchable.
The Alphas’ fists all itched.
“Good morning, Instructor Yu.” He took off his sunglasses and smiled.
Upon seeing the people on the shuttle bus clearly, his smile faded slightly.
Yu Shi said, “You rented a car? Actually, there’s no need. We can squeeze in.”
Xie Ren: “…?”
The people on the bus shouted cluelessly:
“Brother Ren, I want to ride in your car. Take me along.”
“Brother Ren is surprisingly nice, acting as our driver. Hehe.”
Xie Ren took a deep breath, face black as pitch. “So many people… going together?”
Before Yu Shi could speak, Zhao Yi in the passenger seat said, “Didn’t I tell you yesterday? Our class is going to Zone 3 today.”
Xie Ren thought: I fucking thought you were going by yourselves.
What kind of situation is this?!
Zhao Yi yawned with teary eyes. “Anyway, it takes half an hour to the station. I’ll catch up on sleep first. You dragged me up at four to do styling; I’m dying of sleepiness.”
“Go sleep in the back,” Xie Ren squeezed out through gritted teeth, then honked and raised his voice, “Instructor Yu, that bus is full. Get in my car.”
Xu Ze said, “Not really, I have a seat here…”
Meeting Xie Ren’s murderous gaze, he swallowed the rest of his sentence.
Yu Shi glanced at Han Po sitting on the bus, then signaled to Li Yang at the back. “Teacher Li, let’s take Xie Ren’s car.”
“Oh, o-okay.” Li Yang hurriedly followed, worried that Yu Shi and Xie Ren wouldn’t get along, and thoughtfully sat in the passenger seat.
Xie Ren: “…”
Enough with these people.
“We can go.” Yu Shi wondered why he wasn’t moving. “Waiting for someone, Xie Ren?”
“No.” Xie Ren started the Land Rover through gritted teeth.
The original plan was completely ruined. Even the flowers in the trunk couldn’t be given out.
Just great.
He wilted like a dehydrated fish, his peacock-display outfit dimming.
After passing customs security, Yu Shi finally noticed his abnormality. “You seem unhappy?”
Xie Ren couldn’t hide things. He said stifledly, “Didn’t you agree to let me treat you to a meal? I thought it was just the two of us.”
Yu Shi paused, not expecting this reason.
He realized then that Xie Ren was dressed differently today, looking like a kid excited for a spring outing only to find it wasn’t what he imagined.
Kind of funny.
Yu Shi chuckled aloud. “That restaurant is opposite the school; it’s our dinner spot tonight. Besides, with so many people, it saves you money.”
He rarely smiled so openly. The corners of his mouth lifted, fine smile lines appearing. His teeth were white and even, and those usually cold eyes curved like beautifully shaped new moons.
Xie Ren stared, lost in thought. He realized belatedly: So Yu Shi wanted to save me money.
Zhao Yi came over chewing gum. “Brother Ren, they’re asking about that Koen…”
Xie Ren slapped the Land Rover key into his face, forcibly escorting him away, whispering, “Remember, I have no car. They are all yours.”
Zhao Yi trembled with excitement. “Ho… Holy shit, you are my real dad…”
After the train arrived, everyone reached the Interstellar Museum.
For a better experience, Yu Shi had booked a guide in advance, leading everyone from the Big Bang onward.
There were automated walkways in the hall. Bulletproof glass on both sides displayed artifacts.
The lighting was dim, and the explanation sounded like a lecture. The atmosphere was dry.
Ye Bingyang listened drowsily. “Last time I came was first grade. Walked all morning and remembered nothing. This is more torturous than Astro-History class.”
Zhao Yi was even sleepier. “If sign-up wasn’t mandatory, I bet half would be absent. Who came up with this elementary school field trip?”
Xu Ze laughed. “Whoever is absent, Brother Ren won’t be.”
He exchanged a look with Ye Bingyang, smiling knowingly.
“Why? Does he like Astro-History class?” Zhao Yi was puzzled. “Seems so. He started looking forward to it a week ago. Weird, isn’t he a science student?”
Ye Bingyang said speechlessly, “Go play with your mud.”
Xie Ren walked along the line. Passing Han Po, he said impatiently, “Move.”
Han Po was glaring at Li Yang’s back. Hearing this, his brows shot up. “You own the road?”
Xie Ren bumped his shoulder past him. Just as Han Po was about to explode, he heard Yu Shi’s voice ahead. “This is an object from three hundred years ago, right?”
The guide said, “Correct. The next items should interest you. They are displays related to the founding of our Sundial Republic. As everyone knows, Kowa is a city built on artillery fire. We have been away from war for less than a century.”
The quarreling quieted down. The kids perked up, watching the ancient objects move backward with the walkway, like history passing by.
“This one was left by the Consul of Zone 9 back then. The pistol blueprint ‘Sidewinder.’ Improved by later designs, it is now used by K9 officers. Only one remains on Blue Star.”
Everyone whispered:
“I remember this Consul. The most handsome one in the history books, hehe.”
“The white-haired one, right? Legend says he was a Beta who beat a bunch of Alpha generals into submission. Movies don’t dare film like that.”
“Actually, unofficial history says he was an Omega. His romantic history… quite colorful.”
“That’s too wild. How colorful?”
The guide said, “We can see a snake coiled on the body of this gun. This is its signature pattern. The design wasn’t for aesthetics, but to allow the user to inject pheromones to control the pistol, achieving perfect accuracy. It can even fire without pulling the trigger.”
“Approaching next is its first owner. You must be curious why the portrait frame is blank. You can look at the name below.”
Yu Shi’s gaze moved with the gun, landing on the empty frame.
Han Po sneered. “Empty because he died, obviously.”
Zhou Jiahao said, “Not just dead, but a big traitor.”
The guide said, “Correct. The first owner of this gun was named Shao Yinghai, former K9 Starship Commander-in-Chief and Southern Commander. Later sentenced to death for treason. His wife was exposed as the daughter of an Olo Empire high official, seducing him to betray his country. It’s said she fled Blue Star.”
“Heroes have always stumbled over beauties,” Han Po said. “A perfectly good Commander-in-Chief, losing his head over a woman.”
Xie Ren suddenly spoke up. “Can’t say that.”
“What, speaking up for a traitor?” Han Po said coldly.
Shao Yinghai was a recognized traitor, universally condemned. When the incident happened, the whole country was shocked. As many people worshipped him before, that many hated him later.
Everyone looked at Xie Ren in surprise. Yu Shi also turned his head.
Xie Ren said nonchalantly, “Shao Yinghai committed suicide out of fear of punishment during the investigation, and his family’s whereabouts are unknown. In a heavy prison with copper walls and iron walls, where did the suicide tool come from? Would a Commander who dominated for half a lifetime and killed countless enemies commit cowardly suicide? The official stance hasn’t even been finalized; it’s just folk rumors. Of course, I’m just stating doubts, not representing personal views.”
The atmosphere solidified. Zhao Yi smoothed things over. “When we did our graduation project, we read a lot of his biographical notes. This general indeed pushed tactical progress forward by decades. Rational discussion, rational discussion, ha.”
The guide hurriedly said, “So that’s how it is. We can look at the second owner of this gun. He can also provide reference for your thesis. He is the current Marshal of the Heaven’s Punishment, Li Huaiquan…”
Yu Shi was still looking at the gun. The display stand had already slid to the back.
His head was slightly turned, his expression unclear.
Xie Ren’s voice sounded in his ear. “You like the ‘Sidewinder’?”
Yu Shi turned back, saying faintly, “Blue Star’s number one pistol. No one wouldn’t like it.”
His expression was different from usual, holding a blankness that deliberately concealed emotion.
“Want to see it?” Xie Ren asked.
“Hm?” Yu Shi queried.
Xie Ren said, “Its current owner is…”
The guide: “Finally, introducing its third owner, Marshal Xie Chengfeng. Marshal Li gifted ‘Sidewinder’ to Marshal Xie after his transfer. Many know these two are fellow disciples…”
Xie Ren smiled. “If you want to see it, maybe it will appear at the Gun Expo.”
Yu Shi said casually, “I don’t know if Marshal Xie is willing to display it. Hmm, Xie is indeed a big surname. You share a surname with the Marshal.”
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