The signal was intermittent, and on the screen, Weng Wei was crying loudly, with snot and tears all over his face.
The moment he heard the news, Gu Qiongsheng's heart skipped a beat.
The others' expressions were also extremely grim. Tan Yao had already rolled up his sleeves and started to curse: "Locked in? Not allowed to go out?"
"Fuck, what the hell, do they know how important this game is to you?"
On the crackling screen, Weng Wei shook his head and wiped away tears. "Pure Stone Star is a mining planet. There are few people but many mines. My parents are ordinary workers sent by Shunxing Group to control the mining machines."
"They've been here too long, isolated from the news, and don't understand anything. The group wants to give them a large bonus and also told them that, considering their hard work and contributions over the years, they want to transfer them back to Tianyuan Star and assign them other easier jobs—the price they pay is just to lock me up at home for a few days."
"I think they've been cheated. This has never happened before! But they won't listen. They're so happy..."
The boy's depressed voice echoed in the courtyard. The people who were listening looked at each other and saw deep helplessness in each other's eyes.
What can be done?
For adults who have lived on the mining planet for a long time, in a harsh environment and with a hard life, if they have a chance to change jobs, they must seize it at all costs, even if it might be a scam.
Listening to Weng Wei's story, Zhou Qing suddenly gasped.
Her pupils trembled slightly, and she raised her head in fear and disbelief, her voice thin and weak: "Qiong, Sister Qiongsheng..."
"Actually, the day before yesterday, I also received a communication from my parents asking me to go back to the desolate planet."
"I thought it was too far and I didn't have time, so I told them I'd wait until the game was over before going back. They were really anxious and sent me a lot of messages, but I was at the training ground at the time and didn't have time to read them..."
One stone can cause a thousand ripples.
With Zhou Qing's reminder, Han Tianming, who was more cautious, recalled what he had experienced in the past few days and exclaimed, "You too?"
also?
Gu Qiongsheng had a bad feeling in his heart and suddenly raised his head.
Han Tianming took two steps back in confusion, his face pale: "Actually... I also received the communication yesterday."
"It was my sister who called. But I don't have a good relationship with her. She mocked me and told me to go home immediately. I got upset and hung up. After that, she called again but I didn't answer..."
The wind suddenly turned cold.
The whole courtyard was filled with a heart-pounding atmosphere. When the team members heard about each other's similar experiences, they were shocked and felt deeply frightened.
Gu Qiongsheng turned his gaze to Tan Yao and asked worriedly, "What about you? Didn't anyone call you home?"
Tan Yao leaned against the white wall and said dejectedly, "My parents are long gone, so there's no one left for me."
After a pause, his brows knitted together. "But... I did receive a communication a few days ago."
"It was a master from the deserted planet. When I was a kid, he taught me how to dismantle abandoned mechas and how to identify various parts."
"But he didn't mention asking me to go back to the desolate planet. He just asked me what I'd been doing recently. I said I was participating in the inter-school league and competing for a special recruitment spot. Then he said, 'Good boy, keep up the good work,' and that was... that was it."
Everyone was silent.
Gu Qiongsheng's mind raced, and he immediately figured out the key.
——Most likely someone tried to bribe the master to call Tan Yao back and lock him up, but the master was sharp-eyed and saw through the conspiracy, and did not mention it at all during the communication.
The others soon figured it out.
On the screen, Weng Wei felt a mixture of envy and heartache, unable to hold back her tears. "Wow, your master is so kind! Why are my parents so stubborn? I tried to explain, but they said it was just a small competition and that it was best not to go. It would save me energy and allow me to focus on preparing for the federal exam."
"I, I can't communicate with them at all! What should I do, Captain? I'm sorry, I really have no other choice—"
Seeing him crying hysterically, Gu Qiongsheng had a severe headache and hurriedly comforted him, "Don't worry, don't worry, don't run around, and be careful."
There are not only group companies responsible for mining on the mining planet, but also many miners. The illegal mining of mines has been rampant. There are many unmarked mines on the surface of the planet, most of which are very dangerous.
If Weng Wei loses his composure and falls into someone's trap, it will be troublesome.
"When did the last ship from Pure Stone leave the port?"
Gu Qiongsheng's mind raced, trying to think of a solution: "Let's contact the league organizers and see if we can delay the time, or you can just go directly to Weilun Star..."
Weng Wei made a bitter face: "This, this is difficult, right?"
How could hundreds of teams set out together to delay time just for him?
Moreover, Weilun is a recovered star and a nearly abandoned dead star. Ordinary spacecraft will not pass in that direction.
The organizers of the league also made a big investment and specially chartered an entire spaceship to escort the students.
A few people gathered together and racked their brains, and came up with several ideas, but after trying to implement them, the cruel reality rejected their ideas one by one.
In the end, everyone was at their wit's end. Weng Wei on the other end of the line gritted his teeth and said, "Captain, leave me alone. Find someone else to take over!"
"By the way, where's Boss Qin? Didn't we put him in the substitute column?"
The team members woke up as if from a dream and turned around together.
Under the camphor tree, Qin Yuan looked up blankly and pointed his finger at the tip of his nose: "You mean... me?"
Several people nodded.
Qin Yuan hesitated for a moment and turned his head away: "...I can't do it. I can't participate in this kind of competition."
"Besides, I'm not in good health, and I'd be a burden to you if I went."
Zhou Qing said anxiously, "No, Brother Qin, you know a lot."
Han Tianming nodded repeatedly. "That's right, we're not afraid of ordinary group competitions. But if the organizers are too cunning and set up traps, and we don't know anything about Weilun Star, what if we get tricked?"
"You don't have to fight," Tan Yao frowned, "Can I just make up the numbers?"
Listening to their anxious urging, Qin Yuan's expression changed slightly.
There was a glimmer in his eyes, and for a brief moment, he seemed quite moved.
But after thinking for a long time, the young man raised his head and still smiled bitterly: "But..."
On the other side, Gu Qiongsheng stopped the others.
She took a deep breath, turned around and looked at Qin Yuan steadily: "It's okay, don't force it, I know you are having difficulties. If it really doesn't work, the four of us can do it."
It's just that we're missing one person.
Gu Qiongsheng still looked calm at the moment, but he was actually already furious.
Damn it, who is this bastard who dares to mess with her?
This is outrageous!
That's right. After verifying the situation with the other team members and discovering that everyone except her had received strange communications, Gu Qiongsheng was very sure that someone was definitely behind them.
I want to prevent them from gathering enough people and missing the competition.
Han Tianming frowned: "But, we are short of one person. Will the organizer really allow us to participate?"
Gu Qiongsheng said without hesitation: "Then let's give up this competition and fight for the federal exam in two months."
"As long as you have strong abilities, there are plenty of opportunities."
"and……"
She paused, then said firmly, "Don't feel wronged. Only the weakest, most inferior, and least confident people would resort to such despicable tactics when facing a powerful enemy."
"The fact that other students would resort to such tricks against us only shows that we've become so powerful that they're afraid of us. They're worried they can't defeat us, and that they'll be outmaneuvered by a few losers from Class F."
"The more scared they are, the stronger we have become!"
In the center of the courtyard bathed in golden sunlight, the girl's eyes were bright and her back was as straight as a pine tree.
Although she is thin, her slender figure contains a shocking power that makes people unable to help but... want to be convinced.
With her encouragement, the team members' eyes became brighter and brighter.
"Yeah," Zhou Qing murmured, "They're doing this because they're afraid of us."
"They're afraid of us... They're actually afraid of a small team of F-class guys like us?"
Tan Yao glanced at her and sneered with some disdain: "What F-class? We are no longer F-class."
Han Tianming nodded: "Yes, we are no longer like that. The captain is right, we didn't make it to the second round by luck, we are really strong now!"
The voice is pleasant.
The momentum is as strong as a rainbow.
The dejected mood lingering in the courtyard was quickly dissipating.
Qin Yuan watched all this quietly from the side.
His eyes were filled with ups and downs, and he gradually felt his blood boiling. The breeze blew the hem of his white shirt, as if a stone was thrown into the lake of his heart, causing ripples.
The young man watched this team grow up with his own eyes.
Watching these people grow little by little from the pitiful F-level to the top-notch military college students they are today.
He knew how much hardship they had endured and how much sweat they had shed. He knew that they tried their best to squeeze out their potential in every training session, and they wanted to make up for what they had lost in the past few days.
Although Gu Qiongsheng's healing ability was comfortable, it sometimes became a cruel "punishment" - because of her existence, the team didn't even have the excuse of "exhausting their mental strength and needing to rest". The intensity of the training was so high that even Qin Yuan was secretly shocked.
If those were physical growth, then this moment was the spiritual transformation of the entire team.
Although they encountered obstacles and lost a teammate, the morale of the entire team changed dramatically after realizing that the enemy did this out of "fear."
Gu Qiongsheng's words were like a sharp thunder, and with a "boom", it split the dark clouds over Zhou Qing and others' heads.
——They are no longer F-class.
No longer the lowest being in the entire school, no longer the object of ridicule and contempt by other students!
There is no need to retreat, and there is no need to doubt themselves. They are already qualified to hold their weapons tightly and fight hard for the dreams in their hearts!
The team's morale was unprecedentedly high. Qin Yuan saw everything and sighed silently, "That's great."
...very envious.
Very, very envious.
I want to join them, to fight alongside them, even just once.
Moreover, if such an excellent team is unable to participate in the inter-school league due to lack of players...
Qin Yuan stood quietly under the tree, but his heartbeat kept accelerating, and a huge wave of fear surged in his heart.
Gu Qiongsheng put him on the bench in order to help him fulfill his dream of competing.
Could he really stay out of it and let them miss this opportunity?
Qin Yuan was troubled for a long time.
Finally, he lowered his head, almost unable to control his hands, his fingertips trembling as he sent a string of text on his personal terminal.
…
military region.
It was lunch time. General Qin walked out of his office and headed towards the cafeteria with the crowd.
Walking on the road, he looked serious and his eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about a difficult military strategic issue.
Seeing this, the soldiers passing by did not dare to speak loudly, for fear of disturbing General Qin's thoughts.
But in fact, what Mr. Qin was thinking was:
"Am I too harsh on Xiao Yuan?"
The content of the email he just received appeared in Colonel Qin's mind. It was the result of a regular psychological assessment from Qin Yuan.
Although the result is still "in good condition", the consultant gave some suggestions at the end.
"General Qin, 'obedience' is a soldier's duty, not a child's."
"Even though Qin Yuan has been influenced by his surroundings since he was young and consciously holds himself to the responsibilities of a soldier, he is still a young man under twenty years old after all."
"With all due respect, the psychological pressure on him is too great, and it's only increasing. Even though I know he's a resilient child, I can't help but worry that this pressure will one day break him down."
"If there's a suitable way, please let him vent. Let him be willful once in a while, even if it's just getting angry at others, crying or laughing, it's better than keeping it all bottled up inside like this."
Recalling the psychologist's full page of advice and the concerns revealed between the lines, General Qin pinched his eyebrows irritably.
"Be willful for once..."
It’s difficult, too difficult.
Qin Yuan has been smart since he was a child. After awakening, he was so obedient in the face of various arrangements made by the military that it made people feel distressed.
He said nothing, didn't cry, didn't make a fuss, and quietly accepted all the cruel realities, but Old Man Qin knew clearly that the young man kept everything in his heart.
The dreams of the past, the companions who walked with me, the desire to fight, and the strong unwillingness that was strong enough to kill a person...
Like a burning, never-extinguished fire, it licks the young man's heart year after year.
He tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.
"If he could really make some unreasonable demands, that would be fine."
Colonel Qin rubbed his temples with a headache.
The problem is that Qin Yuan didn't mention it at all.
He had asked Qin Yuan in a roundabout way before, whether there was anything he wanted or anything he wanted to do, but all he got in return was an extremely calm "No."
Just block the conversation.
General Qin was not good at speaking, and he didn't know what to say next after a long time.
Then, the matter was left unresolved.
Thinking of this, General Qin's expression became increasingly tense.
When the soldiers passing by saw this, they couldn't help but feel worried, wondering if the front line was in crisis again.
Which legion suffered heavy losses again?
"Buzz—"
Just at this moment, General Qin's personal terminal rang.
He clicked it with a sullen face and glanced at it.
His expression suddenly changed.
The soldiers watched as their stern admiral picked up his personal terminal and stared at it for a long time. After a long time, he actually smiled, which was very rare!
Although the smile was fleeting.
The soldiers were confused and raised their hands to rub their eyes.
Someone murmured quietly, "Fuck, did I see that right? Did General Qin just laugh?"
The person next to him nodded blankly: "You're not mistaken... What good news did the Admiral receive?"
"Did we win? Did the Zerg retreat?"
"Did the Great Sally Galaxy get recaptured?!"
…
Qin Yuan, who was far away in Yuancheng University, felt his chest pounding as he watched the series of messages coming in front of him.
The screen flickered, clearly showing lines of small characters:
[Grandpa, I'm not making this request on impulse.]
You said the Federation's Project Spearhead is about to be implemented, and I'm undoubtedly at the heart of it. However, as a novice who's never truly set foot on the battlefield, I don't have enough confidence in my ability to successfully complete this mission.
[Perhaps I demonstrated strong mental fortitude during simulation training, but there is ultimately an insurmountable gap between simulation and the real battlefield.]
This inter-school tournament will be held on the planet Weilun, whose environment is very similar to the Greater Sally Galaxy. For me, this is a rare opportunity to improve my adaptability...
Several long paragraphs were written to analyze the necessity of "Qin Yuan's participation in the inter-school league" from various aspects.
There's also the confidentiality part.
"Qin Yuan" is not a rare name. There are tens of millions of young people named Qin Yuan in the federal database.
"I haven't been seen much in three years, and most students have probably forgotten my existence. Even if they do remember, I don't think it would hinder the Federation's plans. On the contrary, their testimony further confirms the claim that my mental power has been completely destroyed."
[And the best way to hide something isn't to put it where no one can find it, but to disguise it as real trash and put it in a corner where everyone can see it. The most dangerous place is the safest place, right?]
Qin Yuan had been thinking about these words for a long time.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yuan received a reply not long after sending the message.
[Must go?]
[According to your thinking, this is indeed an opportunity to prove your "failed awakening." I can tell others that I'm trying to help you through the backdoor, but Xiao Yuan, you have to think carefully. If you really do this, your reputation might become even worse.]
[Is this okay?]
Qin Yuan pursed his lips and slowly typed out his reply.
【It doesn't matter. 】
He has already thought about it.
You can’t bring it with you when you are born and you can’t take it with you when you die. What use is fame to him?
But even so, Qin Yuan had no hope of success.
He knew how strict his grandfather was.
Just wanted to give it one last try...
But unexpectedly, this time Mr. Qin's reply was still quick, with only two lines of words, clear and concise:
[Yes. But remember, you must not use your mental strength.]
[If you can do it, go ahead. I'll go talk to the military district.]
Qin Yuan was stunned.
The young man's eyes gradually widened as he stared at the screen in disbelief, but he couldn't help but step out to check the sender.
——The profile picture is of a meticulous old man.
That’s right, it’s his grandfather Qin Dongliang.
What's going on?
You agreed so readily?
Although he had many questions in his mind, Qin Yuan felt relieved when he saw the reply.
He didn't have time to think about it. He suddenly raised his head and shouted to Gu Qiongsheng, who was about to go home not far away: "Wait a minute!"
Gu Qiongsheng turned around in confusion.
The camphor tree rustled, and Qin Yuan walked towards her under the tree.
The young man's smile was wider than ever, and his bright eyes were full of smiles.
He said, "I'm with you."
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