Chapter 49 — ILK Chapter 49

Wu Jinyue

Because of the disappearance of the Snow-Pear Plains and the resulting magnetic field riot, the Snow Mountain experienced a geomagnetic storm that lasted for a full week. All warships remained docked at the sub-base, and all Sentinels were withdrawn to wait out the storm. During this time, they waited daily for Sang Ye’s feeding, to the point where Sang Ye became delirious from cooking giant communal meals.

Back at the Shifang Grotto restaurant, her specialty was grand banquets, not catering to the daily diets of hundreds of people. Furthermore, Du Yuan had fully adapted to her new identity as a Guide. She washed her hands of cooking entirely, acting as if she had no culinary skills whatsoever—as if Sang Ye’s entire repertoire hadn't been taught by her.

Even more irritating was that Du Yuan wouldn't help, but she would critique. One moment the caramel color was slightly overdone, leaving a faint sour aftertaste rather than a delicate sweetness; the next, the skins of the soup dumplings were too thick, failing to achieve a translucent, paper-thin effect.

Sang Ye was at her wit's end. With a crowd of hungry tigers waiting for her to feed them, she didn't have the time for such perfectionism. Finally, under Sang Ye’s threat of "If you nitpick again, I’ll feed you nothing but steamed numb-radish and plain noodles every day," Du Yuan pouted and shut her mouth.

"Oh, dear, the disciple has grown up and won't listen to her Master anymore," Du Yuan sighed, shaking her head as she left, promptly grabbing Casey to perform a mental channeling session. Under her frequent treatments—seven, eight, nine times a day—the mutation on Casey’s arm had long since receded. Du Yuan only lamented that the girl was a bit too thin.

Thinking back to the chubby Lin Tengyuan and looking at the food the Interstellar people ate, Sang Ye realized it wasn't just a diet issue; he was simply out of shape from a lack of exercise.

In fact, during the idle week at the sub-base, the other Guides also spent their time grabbing whoever was nearby for a session—except for Mu An. He focused entirely on Wu Huansheng, and since his own spiritual form had been severely injured, no one pressured him. Even the two mutated tribesmen Minur had left behind were not excluded from the treatment.

Never mind the base; even while serving in the Imperial Army, these Sentinels had never been channeled so frequently. Combined with the boost from Sang Ye’s spiritual food, the Sentinels were so energized they repaired the kitchen first, and then the dormitories. Within a week, they had renovated the entire Snow Mountain sub-base and inspected the mining equipment.

…

On the day the geomagnetic storm subsided, Minur appeared at the base gate with Casey’s mother. When the rescue team had first arrived, Asu Ment had left a very conspicuous message: in the snowy clearing of the treehouse, the General’s Shamshir and Casey’s bone ornament were hung on a piece of carved wood.

Casey’s mother, a gentle and sensitive woman, had wept hysterically upon seeing them, fearing the worst. But Minur saw it as a sign. Given Asu Ment's pride, she wouldn't resort to killing a child to make a point.

Seeing that the two Snow Mountain captives were alive and well, Minur knew she had made the right choice. The base had returned to its former glory—massive warships docked in the yards, cold metal gleaming, and Sentinels moving with disciplined order.

When Minur emerged from the Executive Officer’s office, her expression was relaxed. Asu Ment had readily agreed to the cooperation agreement and allowed Minur to take the prisoners and Casey back.

The group gathered in the backyard, where Sang Ye and Du Yuan sat under the eaves near a warm furnace. Several pitchers of Roasted Milk and plates of Crispy Cookies were laid out. As Du Yuan’s savior, Minur was invited to join them.

Today’s drink was Duo-Ruo Flower Roasted Milk, made with actual petals from Du Yuan’s spiritual form (the spirit had slapped Sang Ye several times in annoyance while being plucked). The flower cleared the mind, and combined with the rich milk, it made one feel warm and refreshed.

Sang Ye’s gaze fell on the Nine-Tailed Snow Fox accompanying Minur. "So, falling into the base's hands... was that part of your plan too? Can you really predict the future?"

Minur paused, then smiled. "Can't hide it from a Guide, can I? It's not exactly precognition, just a strong intuition. Sometimes I get a feeling that tells me exactly what to do, even if I don't know how it will end."

"Did you know Brian would die?"

Minur looked at the sky for a moment before nodding slowly. "I knew and I didn't. He had to die. Not everyone in the tribe can handle the Black Crystals; should so many commoners be stepping stones for his ambition?" She looked at Sang Ye. "Thank you for saving them that day."

"Since the moment that man appeared in the Snow Mountain, I had a feeling I could use the base to kill Brian," Minur gestured toward Lin Changli, who was watching the snow at the other end of the gallery. "Brian’s power was tied to the Snow-Pear Plains. Only by destroying the Plains could he be defeated. But I couldn't do it myself. He was stronger, older, and even the mountain stood by him."

"But you won," Sang Ye said, clinking her cup against Minur's.

"Yes," Minur whispered, wiping a stray tear. "I won."

Minur explained the new treaty: the tribe would assist in mining as an Imperial protectorate but retain autonomy. They would receive resources, technology, and mental supplements. "Your General said your food is for sale? She said as long as you agree, the supplies can be sent to our tribe, with the cost deducted from our mining profits."

"There is one more thing I want to ask," Minur whispered, leaning in. "Brian and I... we always wanted to see our mother again." She opened the bone ornament on her chest to reveal an old photograph. It was a picture of her, Brian, and a young woman with a dignified, expansive brow.

Sang Ye’s heart skipped a beat; the face looked familiar.

"The old Royal Family wasn't one family; they were strangers who gathered during their exile," Minur revealed. "There were only two real marriages. One was my mother, the other married a Mermaid from the Tide Sea. My mother's name is Wu Jinyue."

Minur’s eyes were bright. "If you ever see her, please tell her I miss her."

On the other side of the porch, Lin Changli slowly turned his head. When he heard that name, Sang Ye’s head buzzed. Could it really be such a coincidence?

The yard gates opened, and Wu Huansheng returned with several Sentinels. "The ships are ready. We can return to the base."

On the unscarred side of Wu Huansheng’s face, she had fox-like eyes identical to Minur’s.

…

After sending Minur off, Sang Ye gripped Du Yuan’s hand and whispered, "Master, what we just heard... never repeat it to anyone."

Back in her private quarters, Sang Ye logged into the military internal net. After the loading icon spun, a entry appeared in her eyes:

Wu Jinyue, Guide. Active Marshal of the Gamma Empire. Commander of the G5/G6/G7 Legions. Executive Officer of Mingyang Star. Commander of the 17580 Era Expeditionary War. Pioneer of the Pegasus, Tuohe, Erge, and Wuyuan Galaxies.

Lineage:

Daughters: Wu Xiangxi, Wu Xiangchuan, Wu Xiangjian.

Grandchildren: Wu Huansheng, Wu Huanyin.

Sang Ye’s gaze froze on the portrait on the screen. It was the exact same face from Minur’s locket.

The Black Tower Royal Family had been captured by the tribes, forced into marriage, and then escaped with Imperial wealth. They didn't just wander; at least one of them had joined the military and built an indomitable power base so that no one could ever force her into anything again.

Wu Jinyue could not have been ignorant of Black Tower’s developments, nor of the state of the natives. Her own granddaughter was stationed here.

Yet, she had never once looked back.