Chapter 127 - The Alphonse Family

Han Qingyu heard that most people needed deep concentration to absorb source energy. It could even be accompanied by soreness in the meridians and muscles.

That wasn’t the case for Han Qingyu.

While he couldn’t absorb blue crystal energy cores instantly the way he could with raw metal cores, it was still effortless—quite comfortable, too.

It was akin to soaking in a hot spring or a footbath. He had plenty of capacity to do other things at the same time.

Lying back with his hands behind his head, he arranged the fifteen energy cores on his body in the shape of the number eight for good luck[1] and as a prayer that this trial would end with him striking rich.

Han Qingyu had always been hopelessly mundane in his outlook and values.

He’d invested heavily in this outing. If he came back without a single raw metal core to show for it, the problem wouldn’t just be a matter of tight finances and hard living, but of Iron Maiden’s survival.

There was a time when all he’d thought about was fighting, growing, and surviving alone so that he could one day go home. At some point, however, he’d unwittingly become responsible for other people.

It was tiring, of course, but it was also less lonely and helpless. It came with a foreign sense of warmth and steadiness, as well as a growing confidence in his ability to survive in this cruel world.

Closing his eyes, he imagined himself as a gas cylinder. No, a source energy canister...

Liquid source energy was the only thing he could absorb and release later. His body would naturally absorb some, and there would be some losses, so the total would inevitably shrink. Nevertheless, his biggest trump card in combat remained the combined surge of liquid source energy and his maneuvering device. Keeping a certain reserve stored inside his body at all times was essential for that.

The two raw metal cores he’d absorbed earlier on, at his first Sharpie encounter and District 1123, had long since nurtured his body.

On the surface, his physical condition hadn’t changed much, but he could clearly sense the improvements in every aspect. Just the other day, he had a strong urge to shoot himself once while out of armor, just to test it.

Could a bullet even hurt me at this point? Probably. I’d still be injured. I just have a feeling the wound won’t be that serious. Maybe I could open it up, dig around a little, and pull the bullet right out of the muscle myself.

Hold on. That legion commander’s legendary twilight strike against the Red Shoulder. What kind of energy did he use? Was it liquid source energy too?

Han Qingyu’s mind drifted to something Shen Fengting had once told him. Legion Commander Chen had taken the Red Shoulder’s head with a single strike and aged twenty years overnight.

If that was the consequence, then it probably wasn’t liquid source energy, but source energy that the body had already absorbed and integrated.

So, he used source energy that was already converted into life force? Does that mean I could potentially do the same thing? Could I draw on the energy my body has absorbed from the metal cores?

No. Better not. What if I end up aging overnight like the legion commander? I’d go home, and my parents would say, “Excuse me, Grandpa, who are you looking for?”

No, no. I haven’t even gotten married yet.

In the dark, Han Qingyu touched the silver bracelet on his wrist as his mind wandered.

If he were being honest, he did eventually want to get married. He didn’t even mind marrying within the Azure Coalition.

Wen Jifei’s teasing was probably true, though. He didn’t understand love at all. It just wasn’t something he’d ever felt.

Of course, there was always the option of an arranged marriage. Many uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters-in-law back in his village had no clue what love was either and had never been in love, but they got along just fine together. There were plenty of examples of this.

Regiment Commander Li said he’d help set up a matchmaking event for me. If nothing works out in three to five years, I might actually take him up on it. So then, get married and have a child?

Han Qingyu had since learned that Lao Jian’s claim about having to keep their children in the Coalition was just a scare tactic. It was meant to stop them from getting ideas too early.

There were actually other options. He could let the child stay in the Coalition, or he could send the baby back home while he or she was still young and have his parents raise them.

If it were me? I’d definitely send the child home. Mom and Dad would be thrilled. It’d give them something to live for...

Working for a classified military unit was the perfect excuse if he needed a cover story. He could send money home, and maybe even get the occasional family visit.

He spent the night soaking in the blue crystal energy cores and pondering ?many things. By the time he drifted to sleep, it was very late into the night.

***

Elsewhere, Shen Yixiu had just finished explaining her body’s condition to Yin Caixin, including matters like eating, drinking, using the bathroom, and washing up.

Yin Caixin hesitated for a good while, then finally asked, “Do you still get... that thing every month?”

“What thing?” Shen Yixiu blinked.

“You know... that.” Yin Caixin eventually managed to make herself clear.

Shen Yixiu fell silent. Then she shook her head with a faintly bitter expression.

“You’re so lucky! It makes your stomach hurt, you know.” Yin Caixin sounded envious. She quickly added, “Just think of it as having one less hassle for a few years. Once technology advances enough and you can come out, everything will be fine.”

Shen Yixiu smiled. “Mn.”

“Is that mister a good person?” Yin Caixin suddenly asked, rolling over. Her trust in Han Qingyu’s group had been established, but the person she trusted most was still Shen Yixiu.

“Mister? Oh, you mean Little Qing. He’s not a bad person.” Shen Yixiu mulled it over and continued with a faint smile, “For most people, he’s probably neither good nor bad. If you get close to him, though, he’ll treat you well. That’s what Grandpa told me. Grandpa also said that it isn’t easy to get close to him, and that I’m very lucky.”

“Oh. I’ve got no chance then. He’s pretty transactional with me.” Yin Caixin lay on her back and nodded. “What about Plague Chicken? I heard you all call him that. Is he a scientist?”

“He... sort of, I guess. He’s a pretty unusual guy.”

“What about Tangtang? In Chinese, Tangtang is more of a girl’s name, isn’t it? It means sweet. It really doesn’t match his appearance.”

Shen Yixiu laughed. “You’ve got it wrong, Caixin. It’s Tangtang[2], as in majestic and imposing, or like a dignified seven-foot man.”

***

The next day, they spent the morning through the afternoon traveling from the hotel to the Third Fixed Exploration Site, the Alphonse family’s territory. It was a restricted zone, closed off from the outside world, and required authorization to enter.

Clusters of French-style buildings and estates were visible through the sparse woodland. It made for a beautiful sight, like the textbook description of old European nobility living in bliss, the kind with castles and fiefdoms.

Exclamations of wonder rippled through the crowd.

Following a pointed finger, they caught sight of majestic, snow-capped peaks.

“Is that Xilang Peak?” Wen Jifei asked.

“No, that’s Annapurna,” Yin Caixin said. “I’ve heard that there are spots where you can see Xilang Peak in the Alphonse family’s territory, though.”

“Oh, so this place is that big?” He Tangtang asked.

An Alphonse family staff member who spoke Chinese answered with a courteous smile, “Yes. The Third Exploration Site is quite large. The trial grounds for this event are extensive too.”

“Can you manage all of that?” He Tangtang continued.

“Of course,” the staff member replied. “This area has not only Mr. Alphonse’s family members but also his followers. They’re very powerful. We travel to mission sites by helicopter, and the tasks are usually not too difficult.”

The staff member’s explanation drew waves of envy from the surrounding crowd.

This was perhaps the most beautiful life one could imagine and aspire to within the Azure Coalition. Not only did they have an independent, scenic territory, a good life, and ample supplies, but also missions that weren’t too difficult and an enduring legacy of glory.

“Go get yourself a Starlight Azure, Little Qing.” Wen Jifei’s eyes were full of longing. “Then set up a territory like this and bring all of us along. Bring Mira and the others too. If the Sharpies never launch a full-scale invasion, we’ll just grow old and die happy there.”

1. The number 8 is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture as it is pronounced “bà” (八), which sounds like “fà” (发), as in strike rich. ☜

2. The Tangtang that Caixin uses is 糖糖 (táng táng), which literally uses the character for sweet twice. In reality, He Tangtang’s name is 堂堂 (táng táng), which has the same pronunciation but a completely different meaning. ☜