Chapter 111 – Planting Flowers
The player who had lost his left arm logged off right after speaking. Xi Guican shut down his light-brain boredly and walked over to He Ruge’s side.
“Have you found them?” he asked.
He Ruge shook his head. The main content of the mysterious livestream involved violence and erotica. Since Xi Guican had chosen someone associated with violence, the person he might choose could be related to erotic broadcasts.
Among the broadcasters he had just encountered, he had the most favorable impression of the tabby cat girl. Therefore, he didn’t want to involve her in these dark aspects.
“This game has no time limit. We can take our time,” He Ruge said.
When he shut down his light-brain, he noticed that the young ones were all eagerly looking at him.
Taotie had the ability to erase others’ memories. This included Shui Xirui, who had forgotten what happened that day, and there was no sign of Taotie possessing Hang Shikuang. However, this was for the best, as it meant the young ones would forget that terrible memory.
He Ruge reached out to pat the young ones’ heads. The fluffy ones jostled to get under He Ruge’s hand, sparking a soft competition for affection. Ruanruan bounced into He Ruge’s arms and waved his claws at his new friend, Autumn Dream Valley, several times before realizing that Autumn Dream Valley couldn’t see anything.
“Ah!”
Shui Xirui suddenly exclaimed, pointing to the notification on her light-brain with excitement.
“Class 1 of Land Elementary School doesn’t need to be relocated anymore! What’s the reason—Star War has ended, and the Zerg have all been driven away… Huh?! The Zerg have been driven away?!”
The livestream of defeating the Zerg had long been spread throughout the entire interstellar network. Whether it was He Ruge’s battle song, Xi Guican’s beast-type mecha, single-handedly annihilating the Zerg, the winged white tiger, or Xi Guican’s beast-type suspected bald tiger, they all trended heavily.
Initially, many people didn’t believe this news, until the Federal Military Department arrived at Star 17 and officially confirmed that the Zerg had been reduced to dust. The public opinion on the Star Network then exploded.
This battle didn’t just repel the Zerg; it completely destroyed even the Zerg Queen, making her irrecoverable. It thoroughly ended the Third Star War and the Fourth Star War…
Whoever could bring peace to the Federation was hailed as a hero. Thus, the praises and celebrations of these honors flooded the public space.
Those who had criticized Xi Guican and He Ruge completely changed their tune, because now praising them was politically correct.
Initially, the discussion of whether to award Xi Guican the rank of Marshal was rejected due to his fleeing the battle, but shortly after it was announced as rejected, it was quickly passed at lightning speed with unanimous approval from all senators.
Now, they were just waiting for Xi Guican to find time to go to Central Star and accept his newly minted Marshal title.
The big shots of the Hawks and Doves were all left with faces full of embarrassment. No matter how daring the haters were on the Star Network, they couldn’t surpass the big shots.
However, most of the honors fell on Xi Guican, as the interstellar people generally believed that He Ruge was just singing and cheering, without contributing much.
Even so, the faith He Ruge absorbed reached its historical peak.
But not everyone was unaware of the power of the Battle Song. For example, Mao Zixie only realized the terrifying power hidden in that song after hearing it. It directly washed away the negative emotions he had accumulated since listening to “Sacrifice.”
In fact, when he first heard “Sacrifice,” he had been influenced by the banned music, including later hints to He Ruge.
Mao Zixie only realized the truth later and felt a wave of fear. He sent a long string of apologies to He Ruge. Mao Zixie even treated the first battle song sung by He Ruge as an amulet, listening to it dozens of times a day to prevent himself from being manipulated by banned music again.
Xi Guican rested his chin on He Ruge’s shoulder and glanced coldly at the message Mao Zixie had sent, softly chuckling. “Tsk, the MAo family.”
The unforgivable mistake he had made, followed by the same kind of apology.
The chilly sarcasm swiftly appeared and disappeared on the handsome man’s face. His blue eyes seemed incapable of holding much emotion, turning icy and indifferent the next moment. Only when he glanced at the youth beside him did a hint of warmth touch his expression.
He Ruge was in conversation with Shui Xirui. They were discussing the whereabouts of the young ones from the Western Hemisphere in Blue Whale Orphanage.
Since the environment in the Eastern Hemisphere was not suitable for the young ones’ growth, and with the Insect Clan now disappeared, the young ones could once again return to their homeland.
Now the Federation is already repairing the infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. In a while, the young ones can go home.
“Ah, if only I could adapt to the environment of the Western Hemisphere,” Shui Xirui sighed regretfully.
After completing the discharge procedures, Shui Xirui led the young ones back to Blue Whale Orphanage. He Ruge carried Ruanruan, his thigh grabbed by little hedgehog Huahua. Shui Xirui walked in front, while He Ruge and Xi Guican walked behind.
As they walked, He Ruge whispered to Xi Guican, “Guīcān, have the Insect Clan completely disappeared?”
Xi Guican lowered his hat brim. Both he and He Ruge wore masks to avoid trouble.
“Yes.”
The power left behind by Qiong Qi in the Insect Clan had all been reclaimed by Xi Guican. The greatest power was in the Insect Queen, nurturing higher-level Insect Clan members.
Without Qiong Qi’s power, even if some Insect Clan members managed to escape, their offspring would be nothing more than low-level Insect Clan without intelligence and with low combat strength.
“Does this mean the people from Star 17 can return home now?”
Xi Guican continued to nod.
“There are still some low-level Insect Clan members wandering on Star 17. The Federation may completely eliminate these Insect Clan members before considering allowing the people from Star 17… to return home.”
When he mentioned the term “return home,” Xi Guican paused for a moment. He glanced down at Ruanruan in He Ruge’s arms and suddenly realized that both he and Ruanruan were from Star 17. The concept of returning home could also apply to them.
“Can we establish an orphanage on Star 17? Right in the location where Star Ocean Orphanage used to be, build a new orphanage,” He Ruge’s eyes lit up as if they could shine.
Under this bright gaze, Xi Guican’s heart seemed to be warmed. He moved his lips slightly, wanting to ask why.
Why on Star 17?
Why build an orphanage in the same place where Star Ocean Orphanage used to be?
But in the end, he didn’t ask anything. He just quietly agreed.
He Ruge and Shui Xirui entered Blue Whale Orphanage, while Xi Guican did not follow. With him around, the young ones would feel scared. Xi Guican stood at the entrance, dressed in pitch-black military cap, uniform, leather gloves, and military boots—a silhouette painted with straight lines of oppressive black.
It was early morning. The young ones had finished their morning exercises and returned to the classroom for morning reading. Their childish voices reading aloud mixed with the dawn artificially created by Whalefall City filled the air.
Xi Guican lifted his head and saw rows of windmills in the sky—blue and white windmills. When the wind blew, these windmills would spin with a rustling sound, like carefree waves.
It seemed he had never seriously looked at any orphanage other than Star Ocean Orphanage.
Xi Guican raised his hand, fingertips almost touching the row of windmills in the air. His fingers moved slightly, as if strumming a string on a guitar. His expression remained stern, though his snowy-white eyelashes blinked with a hint of bewilderment.
“Why aren’t you going in?”
Ruanruan suddenly hopped over to Xi Guican’s feet.
Xi Guican withdrew his hand, looking down at the little bunny at his feet.
“No need.”
“Why not?” Ruanruan asked, puzzled.
“I’m not welcome,” Xi Guican replied.
Ruanruan widened his eyes in disbelief.
“How is that possible? Not only do I want you to come in, but the other kids do too, and Teacher Shui also wants you to come in. You’re a great hero! As Ruge and we said, Xi Guican is a great hero!”
Ruanruan had already sorted out two completely different memories. He had always been a smart bunny, not getting confused by these two sets of memories and remembering even the smallest details, down to what He Ruge had said.
He was also a bunny who understood others’ feelings well, not asking where Ruge’s parents had gone or where the Sixteen Stars were, or where Blue Whale Orphanage was.
Kids with too many questions were always annoying, and Ruanruan knew that very well.
“If you don’t believe me, you can go to the classroom and see for yourself,” Ruanruan said, patting his little chest.
Xi Guican fell silent for a moment, then bent down to pick up Ruanruan, carrying him in his arms towards Class 1 of Land Elementary. Because of the hard military jacket, Xi Guican’s embrace was not as comfortable as Ruge’s. Ruanruan was bumped around uncomfortably, hoping the path to the classroom would be shorter.
When they were close to the classroom door, Ruanruan couldn’t wait any longer. He jumped down like an agile mudfish and darted into the classroom, his round bunny tail swaying as he ran.
Xi Guican stood still at the door, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping over the young ones in the classroom. He noticed awe, curiosity, and even a hint of affection in their eyes as they looked at him.
To the young ones, Xi Guican was someone Ruge liked, and someone Ruge liked had to be a good person.
He Ruge walked out, gently taking Xi Guican’s hand.
“I thought you wouldn’t come.”
Xi Guican’s attitude towards the young ones was very cold, and when Xi Guican stopped and left the main force, He Ruge thought he didn’t want to stay with the young ones.
“Guican, I want to stay here with the young ones for a few days, and then send them to the Western Hemisphere before leaving. You can go to Central Star to be promoted in rank first. Don’t worry about me; I have self-defense skills now.”
He Ruge turned his head and glanced at the young ones, whispering softly, “I was just thinking, whether the young ones in Class 1 of Land would like to go to Star 17. The environment on Star 17 is similar to that of the Western Hemisphere.”
“Why?”
Xi Guican finally asked the question, “Why build an orphanage on Star 17?”
“You and Ruanruan are both from Star 17. According to the information given to me by the game, I am also from Star 17. We have an ancient saying: ‘The fallen leaves return to the roots.’ I want to take everyone home.”
He held Xi Guican’s hand and smiled faintly, “I heard that Blue Whale Orphanage will organize an activity. Although the Federal Organization is repairing the infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere, some bomb craters on the ground cannot be repaired in a short time. By then, we will lead the young ones to plant flowers in the bomb craters.”
There was another reason He Ruge didn’t say out loud.
He knew that for Xi Guican, Star Ocean Orphanage was a scar forever embedded in his heart.
Although Xi Guican had blown up Star Ocean Orphanage at the time, seemingly wiping away all grudges and hatred, the bomb craters remained after the explosion.
And He Ruge wanted to fill those bomb craters with flowers.
Sleepyblue’s corner:
“And He Ruge wanted to fill those bomb craters with flowers.”
I wanted to recommend a song I thought would fit best for this sweet statement, so here you go guys ^__^ I hope you like it:
Hana (Flower) by Fujii Kaze
