Chapter 61: The Scumbag Father Appears
Arki thought seriously for a moment, finding Sasha’s words reasonable. The frightening expression on his face gradually softened.
He put his data pad back on his wrist and asked, “Who do you think is suitable to go to D5? By the way, D5 belongs to the Rose Star Region, and I remember Admiral Desimo closed the (navigation lanes), didn’t he?”
Sasha shook her head. “Admiral Desimo ordered the closure of the navigation routes) to Rose Star. Other planets in the star region are operating normally.”
Arki nodded, indicating his understanding.
This mission wasn’t particularly important, but it couldn’t have any setbacks; it was rather a chicken-and-egg situation. Sasha couldn’t think of anyone suitable for the task.
Just then, Oliver, flashing a set of pearly white teeth and grinning foolishly, passed by them from behind, and happened to be seen by Sasha, who had turned her head.
Thus, Oliver ended up fetching the fruit baskets.
Although D5 planet belonged to the Rose Star Region, which was under Admiral Desimo’s jurisdiction, it was actually a neighboring planet of Glass Star, and closer to Glass Star.
Oliver truly believed the fruit baskets were some kind of operational code name. He thought he was retrieving something important to deliver to Yan Gui Xing.
Afraid Yan Gui Xing would be waiting anxiously, Oliver didn’t go to the starport to take a spaceship. He directly drove his mecha from the base.
When he saw the six large fruit baskets filled with various fruits, he was dumbfounded.
They were actually fruit baskets?! Why did he come in a mecha? He could have taken a spaceship.
However, mechas had their advantages—they were much faster than spaceships. Oliver returned in less than forty minutes.
He didn’t know if Yan Gui Xing was urgently needing these fruit baskets. Sigh, the boss is an enigma; it’s impossible to guess what he’s thinking.
Oliver didn’t even return to the base; his mecha directly blocked the entrance to the villa.
If he hadn’t retracted his mecha into his spatial pouch in time, Gongsun’s departing aircraft would have certainly collided with his mecha’s head.
If the two of them had caused such a low-level accident at Yan Gui Xing’s headquarters, the Fourth Army, under Yan Gui Xing, would have become the laughingstock of the entire empire.
Yan Gui Xing would probably make sure neither of them ever dared to pilot a mecha or aircraft again.
Oliver looked up at the blue and white striped aircraft “whooshing” overhead, muttering softly, “Isn’t that the doctor’s aircraft? Where’s he rushing to? He’s speeding.”
Compared to Gongsun’s journey, he was now more concerned about the six large fruit baskets at his feet. Six baskets were a lot; he could carry them, but he couldn’t guarantee that the fruit wouldn’t fall out.
So, Oliver decided to call for reinforcements.
Arki said he would arrive immediately, but instead of Arki, Oliver was greeted by his little wife, Mu Mu, out for a walk with Xiao Ting.
Mu Mu was on her way to the glass greenhouse to water the plants with Xiao Ting, when she saw Arki’s navy blue mecha descending from the sky.
This was the first time Mu Mu had seen a mecha up close. She was so surprised her eyes widened, her pupils shrunk to pinpricks, and her mouth hung open in an “ah” of astonishment.
“Is that a mecha?”
Xiao Ting’s small round head also tilted up, its initial expression returning. Its little hands rose, entering a state of alert.
The cold mechanical eyes scanned the landing mecha, confirmed the mecha’s model number and army affiliation, and then relaxed. Its little hands lowered, and its face returned to its cute and adorable smile.
“Yes, yes, that’s Oliver’s mecha, ‘Sea King’.”
“Sea King?” Mu Mu watched as half the body and head of the mecha appeared above the gate. The next moment, the enormous mecha disappeared on the spot.
If Mu Mu hadn’t been staring intently at the mecha, she would have thought the mecha in the air was a figment of her imagination.
“Wow! It’s gone!”
Xiao Ting explained, “A mecha is every mecha warrior’s best companion. They all give their mechas names. Sea King is the name of Oliver’s mecha. We can’t see it now because Oliver has put it into a special spatial pouch for mechas.”
“Amazing!” Mu Mu’s eyes shone with admiration, her tone full of envy.
In the Empire, there wasn’t a single boy who didn’t like mechas. Owning a mecha of their own was a wish every boy harbored in their childhood.
Because of this, many people chose to join the military every year. However, because of the requirement for a mental link with the mecha, both mental strength and physical fitness were strictly demanding, and the number of those who met the standards each year was small.
Mu Mu’s physical defects meant that she was destined to be unable to take this path.
“Gui Gui must have a mecha too!” Mu Mu recalled Yan Gui Xing’s beautiful silver aircraft, guessing that his mecha must be just as beautiful. “What’s his mecha called?”
Hearing Mu Mu ask about Yan Gui Xing’s mecha, her brother, Xiao Ting proudly puffed out its chest. “Master’s mecha is called the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.”
“Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.” Mu Mu repeated the name softly, exclaiming, “What a powerful name!”
Xiao Ting proudly said, “Master’s mecha’s name is taken from one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in the ancient Earth religion. The Ksitigarbha Sutra describes him as ‘unyielding and immovable like the earth, with deep and quiet contemplation like a hidden treasure,’ hence the name Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.”
“Legend says he vowed to liberate all beings in the six realms, saving them from suffering, and only then would he achieve Buddhahood. That is, he vowed not to become a Buddha until hell was empty.”
“Master named his mecha this because he wants to kill all the space pirates and Zerg, and bring peace to the border planets!”
Mu Mu didn’t understand most of what Xiao Ting said. But she understood the last sentence, and her emotions were infected by Xiao Ting’s, becoming passionate and excited.
“Gui Gui is the best!”
Xiao Ting raised its little head. “Of course! Our master is called the ‘Imperial Slayer’!”
Among the five Marshals of the Empire, the one known as the “God of War” was Admiral Desimo of the Second Army – this was definitely a positive appellation.
As for Yan Gui Xing, the “Imperial Slayer,” it was a title with both positive and negative connotations, mostly used negatively. Outsiders wouldn’t dare mention this term in front of Yan Gui Xing, fearing they’d incur his wrath.
Yet, here it was, coming from Xiao Ting, used as a compliment. And because Xiao Ting said it, Mu Mu believed it.
One person and one robot, one praising, one awestruck, they reached the front gate.
Seeing Oliver guarding the six large fruit baskets alone, Mu Mu volunteered to help carry one, and Xiao Ting also helped carry one.
This time, Oliver didn’t need to wait for Arki. He quickly carried the remaining four fruit baskets, following behind Mu Mu, afraid that the little wife, as delicate as fine glass in his eyes, might fall.
If Mu Mu really fell, Oliver felt he could atone with his life.
They appeared before Yan Gui Xing’s eyes, fresh and vibrant. Yan Gui Xing was about to go out to meet Mu Mu when the data pad in his pants pocket vibrated wildly.
He paused. This frequency of vibration indicated a video call. The old men in the military wouldn’t be calling him at this time, so it must be unimportant.
Yan Gui Xing didn’t intend to answer, continuing to walk outside. The data pad vibrated wildly for more than ten seconds, then stopped, paused for a second, and then started vibrating frantically again, as if it wouldn’t stop until Yan Gui Xing answered.
Impatiently, Yan Gui Xing stopped, leaned against the sofa armrest, took out the data pad from his pocket, saw the name “Yan Wangbei” on the screen, his eyes cold, he let out a cold sneer, and hung up directly.
He casually put the data pad back into his pants pocket, but before it touched the fabric, it began to vibrate again.
Yan Gui Xing’s impatient expression took on a hint of surprise. Yan Wangbei had the pride of an old-fashioned aristocrat and the condescending attitude of someone who considered himself his father. If Yan Gui Xing hung up on him, he wouldn’t call again that day; he’d have to apologize first.
Unfortunately, Yan Gui Xing never acknowledged Yan Wangbei—the man who had abandoned his wife and child in his youth, causing the death of the only woman who loved him—as his father.
Therefore, each standoff between this pair of father and son, who were more like enemies, ended with Yan Wangbei humbling himself and seeking reconciliation.
There was no other way. Yan Wangbei was the one who needed something. He relied on Yan Gui Xing, the illegitimate son who couldn’t be brought to the forefront, to preserve the status and glory of the Yan family.
This time, Yan Wangbei calling again was unusual. Yan Gui Xing lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment. Looking up at Mu Mu, who was almost at the door, he rubbed his index finger against the knuckle, stood up, and went upstairs.
Entering his study, Yan Gui Xing looked at the still-vibrating data pad and scoffed, rolling his eyes. He threw himself onto the sofa, answered the data pad, pulled up the screen, and tossed the data pad onto the coffee table.
Yan Wangbei’s face appeared on the screen. He hadn’t expected Yan Gui Xing to answer so suddenly, his brow furrowed in displeasure, his gaze slightly dazed.
To be fair, Yan Wangbei wasn’t unattractive, nor did he have the greasy look of a middle-aged man. On the contrary, his features were still sharp, his features handsome, possessing the refined elegance characteristic of old-fashioned aristocrats.
He wore a dark gray suit, a light gray vest, a white shirt with the top two buttons undone, no tie, adding a touch of gentleness to his elegance; the kind of handsome older man that young men and women chased after.
But this handsome older man was promiscuous, heartless, and a complete scoundrel.
Looking at the man he hated most on the screen, Yan Gui Xing felt, for the umpteenth time, grateful that he resembled his mother more than Yan Wangbei.
Otherwise, he would have certainly slashed his own face with a knife.
Yan Gui Xing half-lowered his eyelids, impatiently saying, “Yan Wangbei, speak! You’ve made so many video calls, it’s not just to let me see your old face, is it?”
Hearing Yan Gui Xing’s mocking voice, Yan Wangbei’s brow furrowed again, his expression changing completely. His eyebrows stood on end in anger, he roared, “You ingrate! How dare you talk to your own father like that? No manners at all! You—”
He tried to say something more, but perhaps he remembered something. Seeing Yan Gui Xing’s sinister expression, his face suddenly turned ugly, and he abruptly shut his mouth, unable to continue.