Chapter Forty-Two

“Black Point?” Ye Chong murmured softly, intrigued by the peculiar name.

Baili Nan replied with excitement, “Yes, that’s right, Black Point! Sir, this mesh armor of mine was obtained from there. No one dares to cause trouble in that place. As long as we make it into Black Point, we’ll be safe! There…”

Ye Chong’s face showed indifference as he said, “You handle it as you see fit.” He turned and walked away, leaving Baili Nan, who had just prepared to launch into a passionate speech, frozen in surprise, arms suspended mid-air.

Seated in a quiet corner, Ye Chong sank into contemplation, reflecting on his actions over the past few days. This habit had become second nature to him since his days on the Junk Star. After every battle, he would carefully review and summarize his mistakes and oversights, as well as the behaviors and movement patterns of mutated creatures—details crucial to his repeated success in hunting those formidable beasts. After Mu Shang arrived, he greatly encouraged this practice, eventually making it Ye Chong’s daily assignment.

When ambushing the Cyclops, he realized he had acted too hastily and lacked composure. Had he been calmer, he could have made his escape before the pirates reacted, avoiding the subsequent predicament. His overwhelming unfamiliarity with the outside world was his greatest weakness—a flaw he could not quickly remedy.

Indeed, the Asteroid Belt was a natural, unrivaled training ground for piloting mecha. It was also perfect for honing marksmanship, and perhaps he should consider making use of it in the future.

Suddenly, Ye Chong remembered Mu. He called out to him in his heart, but there was no response. Disappointment surged within him, and he found himself missing his life on Junk Star. Though there was little there, he and Mu could banter freely, and though monotonous, each day felt fulfilling. Since leaving Junk Star, Ye Chong’s smiles had been far fewer than those he’d managed in a single day back there. When confronted with the unfamiliar, Ye Chong always sensed a potential danger, compelling him to treat every matter with utmost caution—even those that might seem trivial to others.

The complexity and unpredictability of this place were far beyond anything Junk Star had to offer.

Though he had longed desperately to leave Junk Star, now that he was truly gone, the absence of Mu’s companionship left him feeling incomplete.

At the Reno spaceport, all the staff stared in astonishment as a battered, dilapidated starship limped into dock—if it could even still be called a starship. Even the most senior worker, with over fifty years of experience, shook his head in disbelief and said to the young man beside him, “In all my years here, I’ve never seen a ship in such sorry shape. Tsk tsk, you couldn’t sell it for scrap! I can’t believe they actually got this heap here! Tell them—we’re not fixing that ship!”

Strangely enough, the visitors made no request for repairs, only for an energy refill.

Ye Chong and Baili Nan disembarked, unfazed by the odd looks cast their way by those nearby. Ye Chong simply ignored them—after all, what did these people have to do with him? Having determined they posed no threat, he dismissed them from his attention entirely. As for Baili Nan, once the number two figure in the Redhawk Faction, he was even less likely to care about these stares, paying them no mind at all.

Reno had once been a small asteroid, transformed over years of development into its current state. Located on the only route to Black Point, Reno had prospered as more and more travelers passed through on their way to Black Point.

Baili Nan, well-versed in the area, naturally took on the role of guide. He explained to Ye Chong, “Reno is really just a supply outpost, the last one before entering Black Point. Most people heading that way stop here to stock up. Maybe it’s because we’re so close to Black Point, but a lot of its specialty goods are sold here too, so plenty of merchants come to buy without risking the dangers inside. Of course, the prices here are much higher than in Black Point itself!”

Towering skyscrapers stretched into the clouds; the sky buzzed with all manner of flying vehicles, and people dressed in a riot of colors moved along the streets. The broad avenues, however, were almost deserted. Many shop fronts projected holographic advertisements. Seeing such a thing for the first time, Ye Chong couldn’t help but study it closely. The projector displayed a translucent, stunning beauty with flawless features and a figure of dangerous allure. Her voice was enchanting, her every gesture captivating, and her moist, rosy lips parted to release a sound like heaven itself—enough to make anyone want to buy the advertised product on the spot.

At least, that was the effect on ordinary people—such as Baili Nan. He gazed at the holographic beauty, nearly drooling.

But for Ye Chong, who had never interacted with women, establishing any standard of beauty or ugliness was an impossible task. He assessed the hologram purely from a combat perspective: legs too slender to generate explosive power, delicate hands that would fare poorly under attack, an overly large but untoned chest that would hinder movement and be weak in strength. The long hair would easily get caught in a fight—a dangerous, potentially fatal flaw. Ye Chong shook his head; the only redeeming feature was her slim waist, which no doubt provided impressive flexibility.

Overall assessment: utterly terrible!

Baili Nan, meanwhile, was still leering at the holographic woman, muttering, “No wonder she’s my dream girl, the most perfect woman in the universe. Ah, Feng Su, my beloved! When did she start endorsing this product? What? I haven’t bought it yet? No, that’s not right for her biggest fan—I have to support her no matter what!”

Caught up in excitement, Baili Nan dashed into the shop and reemerged a while later, arms loaded with merchandise. The shopkeeper saw him off with a broad, satisfied smile.

Ye Chong gestured at the items in Baili Nan’s hands. “What are those?”

Baili Nan, still in a daze, looked down and instantly turned pale—it was… women’s products!

Neither of them noticed a pair of shifty eyes lurking at the street corner.

“Are you sure you saw correctly?” asked a burly, imposing man in a low voice.

“Boss, you don’t trust these eyes of mine? I’ve seen Baili Nan plenty of times before; there’s no way I’d mistake him!” The reply came from a short, agile fellow whose restless eyes betrayed his cunning.

“Didn’t Iron Three of Redhawk say Baili Nan was dead? How is he showing up here now?” The big man was baffled.

“I’m just as puzzled, Boss. Wasn’t he supposed to be dead? Iron Three wouldn’t make that kind of claim lightly, but I saw Baili Nan with my own eyes! Oh, and he wasn’t alone!” the short man recalled.

“What?” The burly man’s body tensed. “You say he had someone with him?”

“Yes, a young man, very ordinary-looking—always with that scowl as if everyone owed him money. Baili Nan seemed extremely respectful toward him!”

“Ah!” The big man gasped, then suddenly understood. “I know who he is—it must be him!”

“Boss, who? Who is it?” the short man asked, curiosity piqued by his leader’s reaction.

“It has to be the assassin who killed the Cyclops—the one making all the headlines lately,” the big man said quietly.

“What?” The short man was startled. “Didn’t he go to Red Star Beach?”

“If I’m right, he must have come through the Asteroid Belt. Smart—very smart! He’s fooled nearly everyone. Impressive, truly impressive! If only I could recruit a master like that…” The burly leader paced restlessly, itching with anticipation.

“Boss, what should we do?”

After a moment’s thought, the big man made up his mind. “Keep a close watch on him, but whatever you do, don’t alarm him. Hmph, this is an opportunity we must plan for carefully!”