Chapter Forty-One

Baili Nan had finally begun to grasp the temperament of his new master. The young man before him, stern-faced, unsmiling, exuding a cold aura and prone to staring off into space, favored decisive action and preferred getting things done efficiently. Flattery and empty praise were like water off a duck’s back to him; though he never showed open disgust, Baili Nan could clearly sense his impatience with such talk—yes, impatience was the word! As for the usual hierarchies, this master paid them no mind at all, though Baili Nan would never dare show even the slightest disrespect.

What a strange man, Baili Nan thought.

But Baili Nan was nothing if not shrewd. Realizing Ye Chong had no taste for sycophancy, he adapted, abandoning his old bootlicking ways and handling every task with clean efficiency and steady reliability. Though Ye Chong was still rather green, he gradually came to appreciate Baili Nan’s competence. If the old one-eyed boss were still alive to see Baili Nan’s current serious demeanor, he’d probably have dropped his only remaining eyeball in shock.

Baili Nan reported respectfully, “Sir, they should be heading toward Red Star Shoals in pursuit. They’ll never imagine we’d cross the Asteroid Belt and head to Renault instead.” By now, Baili Nan had developed deep admiration for Ye Chong. Over the past days, Ye Chong had been rigorously familiarizing himself with the operation of the starship, training with a dedication that far exceeded Baili Nan’s expectations—it looked almost like self-torment!

But for Ye Chong, such intensity was routine. With no one to guide him, he had no choice but to rely on self-study, borrowing methods from his mech training. To his surprise, the results were outstanding—his piloting skills advanced by leaps and bounds!

Having witnessed Ye Chong’s astonishing command of the ship, Baili Nan dared to propose this bold plan, and Ye Chong agreed it was sound. So, as the pursuing pirates saw Ye Chong’s ship heading toward Red Star Shoals, they assumed the fugitives meant to replenish supplies and refuel there. Convinced of their target’s intentions, the pirates pressed the chase and also called on allied bands near the Shoals for help.

Word of the Red Hawk Pirates’ leader being assassinated under heavy guard and his flagship seized spread like wildfire among the pirate clans. Instantly, a swarm of opportunists flocked to Red Star Shoals, eager to witness the mysterious master who had single-handedly killed such a notorious pirate chief and escaped with his ship.

According to Iron, the third-ranking member of the Red Hawks, he had personally seen the old one-eyed boss last only two moves before being slain on the third. The reputation of this enigmatic assassin skyrocketed; curiosity gripped everyone. The one-eyed boss was famous, both as a mech pilot and a brawler, and highly respected among pirates. That he’d been killed in just three exchanges was nothing short of shocking.

If only their own band boasted such a peerless killer, every rival would think twice before crossing them—so calculated many a pirate leader as they hurried to the Shoals, hoping to fish in troubled waters and perhaps snare this great prize.

While the world was in a frenzy over Ye Chong, he, heeding Baili Nan’s advice, plunged midway into the Asteroid Belt.

After this, Baili Nan swore he would never again come within ten kilometers of that place. Heaven help him—it was a nightmare! Seeing those bizarre rocks swelling in his view, screaming past as if to smash them to dust—the sheer pressure of it was unimaginable unless experienced firsthand. His nerves and heart were stretched to the breaking point. And when he saw Ye Chong’s bloodshot eyes aglow with excitement, he was left with only one regret: why on earth had he come up with such a damned idea?

The once grand and imposing flagship of the famed Red Hawk leader, after enduring countless storms of flying debris, was battered and pitted, its hull now scarred and hideous. Even Iron, if he stood before this heap of scrap, would never recognize it as the same ship he’d once refitted on his boss’s orders.

The ship’s performance, however, far exceeded Ye Chong’s expectations. Any ordinary craft would have been wrecked by such an ordeal, yet this pirate vessel—though outwardly ruined—remained structurally untouched within.

When the ship finally cleared the Asteroid Belt, Baili Nan collapsed onto the carpet, soaked through with sweat. Ye Chong, on the other hand, looked as calm as ever, even glancing back at the receding belt with a hint of longing—a look Baili Nan, gasping on the floor, caught in time to make him want to leap overboard in despair.

Fortunately, Ye Chong did not turn the ship around, but followed the star chart to the nearest resupply point—Renault. Baili Nan, whose nerves had been stretched to breaking, breathed a sigh of relief.

“Sir, now that we’ve reached Renault, where shall we head next?” Baili Nan asked.

Ye Chong shook his head and tossed the question back. “I’m not familiar with this region. Where do you think we should go?”

Baili Nan hesitated. “Sir, news of you killing the One-Eyed Dragon must have spread by now. I suspect many leaders are waiting for you to show yourself.”

Ye Chong was surprised. “Waiting for me? Whatever for?”

Baili Nan gave a wry smile. “Sir, who wouldn’t want to recruit a master like you? The moment you appear, they’ll swarm you, using any trick they can manage.”

Ye Chong snorted, his eyes narrowing to sharp points. He said nothing, but drew his dagger and began gently cleaning the blade.

Baili Nan’s heart tightened; he could only hope those men would know their place, or else… He dared not think further.

Ye Chong thought for a moment, then undid his jacket and took off the yellow-and-black patterned armor he had stripped from Baili Nan earlier, handing it back. “Take care of yourself.”

Baili Nan was moved almost to tears by the unexpected concern in Ye Chong’s calm words. Even his old boss, the one-eyed chief, had never cared about his life or death. If the old man had known Baili Nan had such body armor, he would surely have taken it for himself, never mind handing it back! Over the years, Baili Nan had grown used to being a nobody, unnoticed and expendable. Had he not been so useful to the one-eyed chief, he’d have died long ago in some forgotten corner. Through hard work, he’d finally become second-in-command of the Red Hawks, but the position was no bed of roses: the boss barked orders, the underlings scorned him, and Iron regarded him with open hostility. Never before had he met anyone who cared about his fate.

Eyes shining, Baili Nan gazed at the armor in his hands, and suddenly cried out in delight, “Sir, I know where we should go!”