Cannon fodder in the Interstellar

Hebrew Adam could clearly see the anger in Ruo Manni’s eyes. He felt a mix of panic and joy and couldn’t help but ask for clarification, “Manni, are you very worried about me? Is that why you’re so angry?”

His question made Ruo Manni’s anger suddenly freeze.

But she couldn’t deny it; she was genuinely very concerned.

“Manni!” Hebrew Adam said, a bit excited, realizing that she hadn’t outright denied it.

Hebrew Adam wasn’t a particularly sensitive or observant person, yet he could still feel that ever since he had expressed his feelings a year ago, while Ruo Manni’s outward behavior towards him hadn’t changed much, there was an unspoken distance between them.

However, ever since returning to the Imperial Capital Star, he had faced too many obstacles and had been too busy. Not only did he not have the time to cultivate his relationship with Ruo Manni, but he also hadn’t even had the chance to talk to her properly. His worries only deepened.

So when Hebrew Adam emerged from the treatment pod and found that he couldn’t reach Ruo Manni’s messages, his heart felt like it had fallen into an ice pit.

Later, he began to consider that he had been seriously injured, and Ruo Manni had become so angry because she was deeply worried about him. Worrying meant there were different feelings involved.

Although Hebrew Adam was anxious about Ruo Manni being angry and refusing to forgive him, he also felt a sense of joy rising in his heart—she must have feelings for him.

He was excited and wanted to hold Ruo Manni’s hand, but being just a hologram beside her, he couldn’t physically reach out to her.

Disappointed, Hebrew Adam dropped his hand, but the longing in his heart could no longer be suppressed.

“Manni, can we talk tonight in the war realm? Let’s have a good conversation,” he said, unknowingly infusing his voice with a plea. He really wanted to confirm Ruo Manni’s feelings.

Ruo Manni was silent for a moment before resolutely nodding her head.

Just like she had told Sheila, burdened by such a heavy future, they didn’t have much time for romantic musings or sentimental reflections.

Since she had already confirmed her feelings for Hebrew Adam were different, Ruo Manni decided to be straightforward and not let him suffer from uncertainty any longer.

After Ruo Manni agreed to Hebrew Adam’s request, he hurriedly disconnected the communication, clearly indicating that something had come up that required his attention.

Ruo Manni sat there in contemplation for a while. She hadn’t voiced her question, but she had already determined that her suspicions were true: the First Prince indeed wanted Hebrew Adam to take control of the Seventh Legion.

Hebrew Adam was very eager to gain control of the Seventh Legion as soon as possible. Ruo Manni suspected one significant reason for this was that he wanted to be closer to her, rather than being separated by dozens of star systems as they were now.

By the time Ruo Manni arrived in the city of Baili, it was already past three in the afternoon. She sat in the courtyard reflecting for a while until a message from Instructor Fang snapped her back to reality, reminding her that it was almost time to meet.

Upon returning to Topaz Star, Ruo Manni naturally wanted to see Lin Changfeng and his wife first. Although they were no longer her guardians, the bond they had formed over the years had not faded.

Ruo Manni made a slight disguise and left the small manor alone, as the meeting place with Lin Changfeng and his wife was nearby. She didn’t need to take a flying car and planned to walk there directly.

The two space stations on Topaz Star had been under Lin Changfeng’s control for three years, making the security on Topaz Star even better than that on the Imperial Capital Star.

Since Ruo Manni had just returned to Topaz Star and very few people knew about it, she felt secure enough with her current abilities and decided not to take any bodyguards.

As she walked down the street, she realized that she hadn’t really had the chance to stroll through the streets of the Imperial Capital Star.

They had agreed to meet at a restaurant known for its delicacies, which Ruo Manni was familiar with because Lin Changfeng and his wife had taken her and Lin Shangke there several times for dinner in the past.

Seeing the couple who had arrived early in the suite, Ruo Manni happily called out, “Uncle Lin, Aunt Fang!”

In the five years since Ruo Manni had left Topaz Star, although they often saw each other through video calls, nothing compared to meeting in person.

Fang Yaxi ( Mentor Fang) hadn’t changed much, having only improved her cultivation by a small level. She didn’t place much importance on her cultivation due to her profession and her average potential for training. Even though she practiced, she wouldn’t achieve very high results, so she didn’t focus much on it.

Lin Changfeng’s cultivation had only risen from mid-level six to late-level six, which was already the limit of his potential. However, the imposing presence he exuded was more than twice as strong as before.

Now, Lin Changfeng radiated a strong aura of authority, and his gaze had a sharpness it had never had before, clearly a result of the power he had held in recent years.

“Our Ruo Manni has grown a lot taller and is more beautiful now; she’s truly a young lady, as if she has transformed into a different person,” Fang Yaxi said happily, her attitude much like before.

It really felt like a different person, Ruo Manni thought to herself. Over the years, her appearance had been gradually changing, and she now resembled her former self two or three times more. Ruo Manni couldn’t tell if her body was supposed to grow this way or if her looks had evolved.

“Your mental power must be at the late stage of level six perfection now,” Lin Changfeng asked.

“Yes.”

“I didn’t believe you when you said you would return to Topaz Star after graduation, but I didn’t expect you to keep your promise,” Lin Changfeng sighed.

Topaz Star looked fine for now, but in two or three years, it would become a dangerous place.

Lin Changfeng hadn’t anticipated that the Hua De family would not interfere, allowing Ruo Manni to return to Topaz Star. This made him somewhat doubt how much the Hua De family truly cared for her.

“You all know that I grew up here. In my heart, this is my hometown, and I want to protect it,” Ruo Manni said.

Ruo Manni had always felt like an outsider on Emperor Capital Star, lacking a sense of belonging. This time, when she returned to the city of Baili on Topaz Star and saw those familiar streets, she felt as if she had come back to her own place.

“Doesn’t Uncle welcome me?” Ruo Manni sensed that Lin Changfeng seemed to have something on his mind.

“With your talent and cultivation, every legion would want you to join. How could I not welcome you?” Lin Changfeng said seriously.

“Your uncle just hopes that you can stay in the Central Star Domain. You are already considering bringing Shangke to Emperor Capital Star for safety, and we also hope you can remain in the Central Star Domain. It would be better for you that way,” Fang Yaxi said gently.

After Ruo Manni returned to Emperor Capital Star a year ago, she had brought Lin Shangke there and enrolled him in a mid-level academy within the Hua De family’s sphere of influence.

Now that Ruo Manni had returned to Topaz Star, there was no family to care for Shangke. Although Fang Yaxi didn’t want to leave her husband, under these circumstances, she had to set off for Emperor Capital Star in a few days to take care of him. The mother and son would stay on Emperor Capital Star until the fighting was over.

“I would rather do my best to protect Topaz Star,” Ruo Manni said firmly again.