Chapter 33
Miao Weizhen slept for nearly eight standard hours. This was probably his longest continuous rest since the establishment of the "Iron Throne" base.
When he opened his eyes again, there was only a dim wall lamp left in the lounge.
The sharp pain had subsided, leaving only the familiar dull ache lingering in the nerve endings, but it was a world of difference from before. He moved and found that he was covered with a coat that did not belong to him.
It was the dark training suit that Wen Ling often wore, and it still retained the fresh and clean scent of youth.
The room was empty, but on the bedside table were some nutrient supplements and water kept warm in a thermos. Next to them was a handwritten note in clear and powerful handwriting:
[The preliminary repair plan for the propulsion system has been submitted to Lao Lin. Contact Keith when you wake up. — Ling]
There were no extra words of concern, yet a touch of attentiveness. Miao Weizhen picked up the note and gently stroked the "Ling" character in the signature with his fingertips. His dark brown eyes were filled with unreadable emotion. He folded the note and placed it in the drawer of his bedside table, alongside the medication.
He contacted Keith for a review and then got to work. The weapons handover with Lei Huan was complete, and Luo Yan brought back several scarce materials and intelligence urgently needed by the base, paid for by the "Star Flame" faction.
"...Lei Huan stated that the civil unrest in the Federation's central star region is more serious than we anticipated," Luo Yan reported, his mechanical eye flashing a cold light. "President Qu Beichen seems to be using this opportunity to purge several uncontrolled legions within the Federation, including Star Flame. The weapons he gave us will likely soon be used against 'their own'."
Miao Weizhen stood beneath the repaired "Iron Throne" prototype, looking up at the engineers replacing the burned-out propulsion module under Lao Lin's command. Upon hearing this, his face showed no surprise, only cold understanding.
"Qu Beichen has always been like this. In his eyes, there are no factions, only chess pieces." His voice regained its usual calm, as if the fragility of the previous few days had never existed. "What we want is to completely disrupt this chess game."
"Also," Luo Yan paused and pulled up an encrypted message, "Lei Huan hinted that if we could provide more 'cutting-edge' support, he would be willing to share intelligence on the potential weaknesses of the Federation's 'Genesis' Light Spear Array's energy core."
This was a very tempting bargaining chip. The Genesis Light Lance Array was the most powerful weapon of the Federation's Star Dome-class battleships and the core of their deterrent power. If one could grasp their weaknesses...
Miao Weizhen was silent for a moment, his eyes subconsciously searching among the busy crowd, and soon he saw Wen Ling who was discussing something with Lao Lin.
The young man frowned slightly and listened attentively to Lao Lin's explanation, occasionally asking one or two key questions. His profile looked serious and bright under the lighting of the workshop.
"Put it on hold for now." Miao Weizhen retracted his gaze, his tone calm but unquestionable, "Right now, the priority is to repair the base's defense and propulsion systems. Tell Lei Huan that sincerity requires more concrete actions to prove it."
A hint of surprise flashed across Luo Yan's eyes, but he quickly accepted the order: "Yes."
At that moment, Wen Ling seemed to sense his gaze and looked up, his eyes meeting Miao Weizhen's from afar, across the busy workshop. Miao Weizhen didn't look away, nor did he express any reaction, simply looking at him calmly. Wen Ling was stunned for a moment, then a faint smile slowly spread across those emerald eyes, like a spring breeze blowing across a frozen lake, creating subtle ripples.
There were no words, no approach, but an invisible bond quietly tightened during this brief eye contact.
However, this moment of tranquility was soon shattered. The base's communications officer hurried over, his face grim. "Minister, we've intercepted an encrypted broadcast from the Sailiang capital. The directional frequency... appears to be addressed to His Highness Wen Ling."
Miao Weizhen's eyes narrowed: "Content?"
"It's impossible to fully decipher it, but the key words captured are 'Your Majesty,' 'danger,' and 'return quickly.'"
Wen Ling also walked over at this time. The moment he heard the news, his body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and the blood color on his face faded slightly. A trace of complex pain flashed in his always clear and resolute green eyes, but it was quickly suppressed.
"...As expected, it has finally come to this." His voice was soft, with a barely perceptible hoarseness. There was no angry questioning, no innocent worry, only a weariness bordering on resignation.
Miao Weizhen looked at him and asked, "Do you believe this news?"
Wen Ling smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. What matters is that this is the signal he sent - either he really can't hold on any longer, or... this is the final showdown."
He looked up at Miao Weizhen, his eyes still brimming with emotion. "After Rusty Harbor, there was no turning back between us. I just didn't expect him to do it this way..."
These words were neither a cold, ruthless calculation nor a wavering struggle, but rather a heaviness that came from recognizing reality. Miao Weizhen watched his slightly trembling fingertips and suddenly remembered that this young man, whose talent was gradually emerging, was ultimately a young man forced to face his loved ones in battle.
"Luo Yan, track the source of the signal," Miao Weizhen ordered. "Ayuan, use your channels to gather all recent rumors and information on the flow of supplies in the Sailiang capital. We need to confirm whether this is a trap or a genuine opportunity."
Everyone obeyed and left, leaving only the two of them in the workshop.
Miao Weizhen was silent for a moment, then walked over to him and asked, "Do you regret knowing the truth?"
Wen Ling raised her head, her eyes still wet, but her gaze had become firm again: "I would rather suffer awake than die like a fool being kept in the dark."
He looked at the towering "Iron Throne" and said, "I just didn't expect that the first person to teach me to face reality would be you."
This sentence carries too many complex emotions - love and hate, gratitude, and an indescribable dependence.
Miao Weizhen looked at the young man's shoulders, which looked particularly thin under the light. For the first time, he did not use a tone of admonition. Instead, he said calmly: "Survival is the best response to him."
Wen Ling was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "You are right."
When Luo Yan returned with the preliminary results of his investigation, he saw the two men standing side by side beneath the Iron Throne. The fragility in Wen Ling's eyes had been purged, leaving only the resoluteness of a warrior. Miao Weizhen stood beside him, maintaining a perfect distance, yet inexplicably conveying a protective air.
"The signal source is confirmed to be from the Imperial Palace, but it has been forwarded through multiple encryptions," Luo Yan reported. "The news from Ayuan says that the capital has indeed been purchasing a large amount of medical supplies recently, and the security is several times stricter than usual."
Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen exchanged glances, each seeing the same conclusion in the other's eyes—this news was likely a mixture of truth and falsehood. Wen Xunyi might actually be ill, but this was also a carefully laid trap.
"Continue monitoring," Miao Weizhen ordered, "and hold your ground until the specific situation is confirmed."
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