The First Analyst of the Interstellar Era

Chapter 165 : Return Journey - Conversation at the Starport

On the day of returning from the league match, Song Baining knew Chen Sui and her group were going back to Zhu Jing Fu, and she specially took time from her busy schedule to see them off at the starport.

Due to Xie Chunshi and Xie Liuyun's mutual animosity whenever they met, Director Xie, who was especially proper and dignified in front of others, stayed in the starport waiting room. Song Baining, followed by Lu Cuining, escorted the five school military students as they left Zone Eleven.

The military students gathered together, their exchanged glances suggesting some little secrets. Lu Cuining was talking with Xiao Er.

"Remember to visit grandmother when you get back. The elderly lady was quite frightened during the Main Star riot. Also, put in a good word for me. Zone Eleven has too many matters, and I can't get away."

He rarely showed tenderness as he tried to straighten Xiao Er's uniform collar, but the ice-blue-haired youth with a hood dodged sideways. His knowing gaze looked at Lu Cuining, then at Song Baining behind him. "You're an external member, what matters could you have?"

Lu Cuining had retired from the Border Army years ago; no matter how many matters there were, none would fall to him.

What busy matters was he talking about? Wasn't it just that his lost white moonlight had returned? Saying so much, truly treating him like a child.

Having his intentions exposed by his junior, Lu Cuining's cool guy face remained unchanged, his raised hand not yet lowered. He pointedly said: "Can't you cooperate a bit? Would it kill you to act out some father-son affection?"

Xiao Er glanced at Xie Chunshi in the distance, who couldn't even be bothered to look toward the waiting room, showing not a trace of father-son affection. This was the only thing Lu Cuining could find to assert his superiority over Xie Liuyun after losing to him in love—at least he was better at raising a son than Xie Liuyun.

"Childish."

"How boring."

Xiao Er coldly uttered a few words, yet remained standing in place.

Lu Cuining rarely did such things; his actions were quite awkward. The father and son were as stiff as robots.

Meanwhile, Xie Liuyun in the waiting area occasionally looked over. Seeing his former love rival in such a state, and Song Baining patting Lu Cuining's shoulder with an approving look, she said somewhat gratified: "I didn't expect it, Little Lu, you actually look like a good father now."

It's worth noting that when she first met Lu Cuining, he was still a very naive child who would hide behind her in danger, becoming upset over the smallest things to the point of crying, calling her "Sister Ning" through sobs.

"Pff," seeing Song Baining's lip movements, Xie Liuyun could guess what she said. Thousand-year-old fox, don't think he didn't know what Lu Cuining was up to. This green tea must be secretly trying to undermine him.

Damn it, the whole world wanted to steal his wife's attention.

But Song Baining's gaze didn't linger on Lu Cuining for long. She quickly looked toward the Zhu Jing Fu members, and her conversation with Xie Chunshi was also concluding.

"I know Little Xie did wrong. You can resent him, hate him, that's fine. But Little Chun, your grandfather has always been good to you. Even if you have conflicts with Xie Liuyun, you shouldn't stay away for so many years. At least go back to see him."

"The old man's health isn't what it used to be. The riot had an unusual impact on Star Alliance awakened individuals, especially someone like your grandfather who already had mental domain trauma."

Song Baining didn't even refer to Xie Liuyun as his father in front of Xie Chunshi.

Ever since learning about Xie Liuyun's actions, her inner rage was no less than others'. But following the anger came guilt and heartache. After all, that was the man she loved. Xie Liuyun had always had smooth sailing, his only difficulty being defeated by her in the military school league matches. After they got together, she spoiled him like a little princess, making him fearless and never experiencing the slightest grievance.

He was inherently somewhat obsessive, quite ruthless, valuing only Song Baining.

To find Song Baining's whereabouts, not only did he send his son into the tiger's den to test the slim possibility of blood resonance, but he himself even violated Star Alliance regulations by entering the God-Abandoned Domain, attempting to make a deal with Wu Ye to actively become the Wood-Born Flower's host, to be parasitized by the Wood God, trying to use the Wood God's power to find Song Baining's energy signal. If not for Song Baining triggering the Water Dragon's Chant across space, he would have been invaded by the Wood-Born Flower's energy in his mental domain long ago.

But even though the parasitization failed, Wu Ye still invaded Xie Liuyun's memories, thus transforming into Xie Liuyun's face, trapping Song Baining—who had nearly escaped its spatial containment—in one illusion after another composed of Xie Liuyun's memories.

"I know," Xie Chunshi nodded lightly in agreement. His relationship with his grandfather was very deep. Apart from his father Xie Liuyun being the old man's most beloved child, he was also raised as the next generation's heir to the Xie family, which was why he bore the Xie surname.

The Song family had carried on for many years and was unwilling to let the Xie family interfere with the heir's destiny, so they actively gave up the fight over Xie Chunshi's surname, designating Song Yuan, as Song Baining's student, to be the Song family heir. Xie Chunshi subsequently became the guaranteed Xie family heir.

Because of this, Xie Chunshi was largely raised by old Mr. Xie. He was the oldest child of his generation, spending the most time with his grandfather, and their relationship was the deepest. If not for suing Xie Liuyun into the Prison Tower, causing his grandfather some helplessness, Xie Chunshi wouldn't have wanted to trouble him and thus never returned to the Xie family. Now the one being brought into the council by old Mr. Xie was Xie Xu, with no place for Xie Liuyun.

Seeing him take her words to heart, Song Baining nodded somewhat relieved.

She had many things she wanted to say to Xie Chunshi, but when it came time to speak, she felt a lump in her throat.

Across ten years, Song Baining had long missed the best opportunity to cultivate a relationship with him. Seeing her child grow up into a completely unfamiliar appearance, she wasn't without regret, but fortunately, although neither parent was particularly responsible, Xie Chunshi had still grown into someone she could be proud of.

Since she hadn't fulfilled her parental duties, Song Baining was also very clear that she couldn't have too many demands on Xie Chunshi's behavior. So she only appropriately offered her suggestions and views. If he could accept them, that was all the better.

"That being the case, be careful on your way back. Rest well when you reach Zhu Jing Fu. Thank you for your hard work in the league match."

At the end, Song Baining formally saluted him.

Xie Chunshi's expression turned solemn as he returned the salute and said: "Mm."

"Thank you... mom."

He called her rather quietly, but Song Baining could hear it, making her heart melt completely. Although the young man standing before her appeared completely like an adult, with a height slightly exceeding his parents, it didn't prevent her from seeing him, in that moment, as the little child from over a decade ago, looking up at her with chubby cheeks.

Song Baining smiled at him, just as she saw the other Zhu Jing Fu school team members about to board the starship. Chen Sui turned back from the crowd to see if the Commander was following.

Song Baining thought of something and waved to her. The analyst in the crowd looked puzzled, pointing at herself. Seeing Song Baining nod, she said goodbye to her companions and ran down quickly.

"Director Song, were you looking for me?"

Song Baining first met Chen Sui in the energy field, thinking at the time that this military student was very brave and fearless, with impressive momentum. In her, Song Baining saw traces of an old friend. Later, learning this was her second uncle's student, her feelings toward Chen Sui became more complex. When she received the news, she couldn't help thinking that while it was good for her second uncle to guide Chen Sui, if... if there had been no accident, there should have been a better candidate. Chen Sui seemed born for aggressive attacks.

Afterward, her gaze couldn't help but observe this young friend, naturally discovering that Little Chun's gaze would always cross the sea of people, falling precisely on her without deviation.

Having experienced youthful affection herself, she immediately understood his thoughts, making her look at Chen Sui more kindly.

But none of this compared to the impact of watching the replay of the Machine Tower energy field broadcast, seeing Chen Sui open the starship door left by Chen Youjin.

"After returning to Zhu Jing Fu, if possible, go see the Zhu Jing Fu."

The first Zhu Jing Fu referred to Seven Academy, while the latter, Chen Sui knew, meant that ancient building.

It was said to be protected by Zhu Jing Stones, with special folded space inside, storing all textual and visual information since the Star Alliance's establishment—a high building that served as a safe zone protecting all people of Yuguang Star from energy disturbances during the riot period.

Hearing this, Chen Sui was somewhat surprised, but she didn't ask, just nodded obediently.

She'd heard that Song Yunlai was Chen Youjin's student, and the Song family had the most information about Master Jin in the Star Alliance.

"May I chat with the young student privately?"

Song Baining looked with a smile at Xie Chunshi and Chen Sui. Chen Sui instinctively looked at Xie Chunshi, who looked back at her. Their eyes met, and she saw the wolf-tailed young man curve his eyes. "Then I'll wait for you on the starship. Would you like me to bring you a nutritional fluid?"

Chen Sui was a bit stunned. Since after the riot, she seemed to never have fetched nutritional fluid herself.

But she didn't mind these small matters at the moment. Hearing Xie Chunshi's inquiry, she nodded.

Xie Chunshi didn't ask what flavor she wanted. Chen Sui seemed to have no preference for food; she could eat anything, good or bad, and drink nutritional fluids of any flavor without changing expression. But Xie Chunshi had observed that she liked honey flavor the most.

After he left, Song Baining relaxed slightly. She looked at Chen Sui and said softly: "The highest central level of Zhu Jing Fu is where the Zhu Jing Stone is kept. The door has a biological lock, and the key to open it is the Zhu Jing Stone."

Song Baining quietly stated.

Back then, the key was a small Zhu Jing Stone pendant that Master Jin left for Song Yunlai, made into a cross shape.

Thinking of this, Song Baining's gaze involuntarily looked at Chen Sui's neck.

Very similar to her pendant.

But many in the Star Alliance had replicated this pendant, so Song Baining wasn't sure if it was a coincidence.

"Your spear, as I mentioned before, the spear tip should be able to open the door."

"You want me to go there, is it because..."

Chen Sui waited for her to finish pausing before asking, suppressing her surprise and unnoticed anticipation.

She wanted to know if Chen Youjin could be Chen Jia, if her teacher had existed in this world in a place she didn't know about.

"I don't know."

Song Baining answered honestly: "In fact, I don't know why you can open the starship door, why your weapon has Zhu Jing Stone and White Satin Gold Gilt, nor do I know what relationship you have with Master Jin."

"But in the manuscripts left by the Song family ancestors, I discovered a secret," Song Baining winked at her, her expression cunning: "Master Jin was a very mysterious person. She was like an outsider, only being the light blade that cut through the darkness at the darkest moment of the Kamanna Empire. After completing this, she would continue to save others."

"I'm just speculating that perhaps during her years in the Star Alliance, she may have been close to others as well."

Song Baining didn't dare speculate that Master Jin was in other worlds.

Because it all sounded too absurd. She had experienced spatial power, but even the strongest spatial power couldn't allow people to travel through time and space. After all, time is irreversible.

But she always had a wild imagination, and besides, the ancestral manuscript only wrote that the Zhu Jing Stone left by Master Jin seemed to have other secrets, but Song Yunlai never discovered them throughout his life. So Song Baining wasn't sure if Chen Sui could unlock this secret; she just wanted to try her luck with Chen Sui's Zhu Jing Stone.

"Anyway, you give it a try. There's no harm," Song Baining no longer used official language, instead speaking very casually.

Zhu Jing Stone was impervious to water and fire, with energy also isolated outside. Nothing could damage it, which was why Song Baining boldly encouraged Chen Sui.

"But if you discover anything, can you tell me? This would be an achievement surpassing our ancestors."

Song Baining raised an eyebrow; this was her only opportunity to rank above Song Yunlai.

Chen Sui had originally wanted to ask why she was so certain in asking her to try, whether she knew some inside information. But hearing this, she suddenly understood.

This person wasn't certain either; she was letting her be a guinea pig to try.

Chen Sui couldn't deny she was very tempted. Although she knew Song Baining's intention was just to try their luck, but... what if?

Would she see her teacher?