Translator: CinderTL
The wail of sirens grew louder as they approached.
A swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rose from the vicinity of Star City's Central District, rapidly converging on Starlight Lake Bridge.
Mu Qing's punch toward the lake's center had unleashed a tremendous force.
The Star City Military Department's anomaly detection division had clearly detected the massive energy surge, while nearby residents who heard the thunderous impact had flooded the emergency lines with reports.
Forces stationed in the Central District were swiftly mobilized and deployed.
As Feng Qi watched the distant formation of UAV reconnaissance drones and the flashing blue and red lights of magnetic levitation military vehicles speeding toward Starlight Bridge below, he knew it was time to leave.
He turned to the domain creature leading the group:
"You can contact me through the Tiger Soul Research Institute if anything comes up. You should leave now."
"Understood," the domain creature leader nodded immediately, then turned and led the other two domain creatures down the steel cable, descending rapidly beneath Starlight Bridge.
"Feng Qi, I don't think they're genuinely pledging allegiance," Mu Qing said suddenly after the three domain creatures had left.
"That doesn't matter."
"Why not?" Mu Qing asked, her curiosity piqued.
"They have no choice. As long as they're under my control, I don't care what they think."
Feng Qi had asked Old Mist a similar question in the previous timeline.
Old Mist's explanation had clarified the matter for him.
He had said that such an opportunity was immensely tempting for lower-tier forces, one they might never encounter again in their lifetimes.
They might not fully trust me, but this is undoubtedly a chance.
It's like a high-stakes gamble with the potential for enormous future gains.
Among the masses, both the strong and the weak, not everyone has the power to defy fate and freely choose the path for themselves and their clansmen.
These weaklings struggling at the bottom are destined to have no right to choose.
When I offer them a beautiful dream of a prosperous future, they'll clutch at it like drowning men grasping for a lifeline, a glimmer of hope in their bleak futures.
They knew all too well that what awaited them ashore might not be hope, but an even more desperate reality.
Yet if they missed this opportunity, a similar chance might never arise again.
Therefore, they had no choice but to gamble.
Through Old Mist's analysis, Feng Qi understood their reasoning.
He later witnessed a similar situation with the Dark God Race.
Faced with resource support from the Spirit Energy Clan, the Dark God Race was well aware of the hidden dangers. They certainly didn't believe it was a simple act of kindness.
Behind the offered resources lurked obvious malice.
Yet the Dark God Race still chose to submit to the Spirit Energy Clan.
This was another high-stakes gamble, wagering the future of the Dark God Race for a sliver of hope.
That's why, in the previous timeline, the Lord of the Mist wasn't worried about the leaders of the Weakling Clan Alliance betraying him. He had offered them hope, whether genuine or false.
After hearing his explanation, Mu Qing pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Let's go," Feng Qi said, leaping straight off the bridge.
Seeing this, Mu Qing immediately followed suit.
Moments later, Feng Qi and Mu Qing appeared on the lakeside promenade east of Starlight Lake.
Their next destination was the headquarters of the Star City Military Department, located in the central district.
To truly control Star City, the military department—a formidable power—could not be bypassed.
As the city's sole law enforcement and external defense agency, the military department commanded the vast majority of Star City's armed forces.
In terms of public visibility, the Star City Military Department maintained a relatively low profile, rarely interacting with civilians except during major emergencies.
Yet there was no doubt that the Star City Military Department was the city's most powerful military institution.
If the Dawn Organization failed to manage its relationship with the Star City Military Department properly, it would severely hinder the subsequent advancement of their combat operations.
It was already ten o'clock at night, and the lakeside promenade bustled with pedestrians.
Some stood by the railings, gazing toward the lake's center, curious about the source of the earlier massive explosion.
Overhead, formations of unmanned aerial vehicles periodically streaked across the sky, their searchlights sweeping the lake's surface.
Feng Qi and Mu Qing strolled along the promenade, flanked by rows of snack stalls crowded with tourists.
Cooking smoke billowed, carrying the savory aroma of street food.
The air was thick with the scent of various dishes, whetting both their appetites.
"Hungry?" Feng Qi asked, turning to look at Mu Qing.
"I'm not hungry!" Mu Qing declared immediately, her face earnest.
"You haven't had dinner yet. You must be starving. Let's grab something to eat before heading to the military department. My treat. They won't mind the slight delay."
With that, Feng Qi strode toward the food stalls by the lake.
Mu Qing glanced at the steaming stalls, her stomach growling audibly. She decisively followed Feng Qi.
Moments later, Feng Qi and Mu Qing were seated at a stall, devouring their meal with gusto.
The night wind brushed their faces as they watched passersby stroll by.
Feng Qi realized that when he allowed himself to quiet down, everything around him seemed beautiful.
He remembered his first visit here, with his parents. But that memory had grown hazy over time, and he had long since left behind those carefree days.
"Feng Qi, are you tired?" Mu Qing asked, interrupting his thoughts as she chewed on a skewer.
"Exhausted," Feng Qi admitted without hesitation.
"Have you ever considered giving up?"
"I hesitated, but I pushed through. It only strengthened my resolve."
"What drives you forward?" Mu Qing asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she paused eating.
Instead of answering directly, Feng Qi pointed toward Starlight Bridge.
"Do you know the history of Starlight Bridge?"
"I know. This bridge used to connect Shattered Light City and Starshine City. Back then, there were no defensive walls. During its construction, the Domain Forces invaded. If not for the martyrs who fought to the death to protect it, this bridge would never have been completed, and the two cities would never have been connected to form what is now Star City Central District."
Hearing this, a smile spread across Feng Qi's face.
"You're right. If not for the martyrs' bloody battles, we wouldn't be living in peace in Star City today."
"Every era brings new challenges. Our predecessors created Star City through their struggles, building this safe haven for us. It's like a legacy—we too must face the new challenges of our time. Only then can Human Civilization endure."
"The past illuminated my path; now I must illuminate the path for those who come after me!"
As Feng Qi spoke these words with a smile, Mu Qing's eyes shimmered with light.
Once again, she felt that unwavering determination radiating from him, like a warm wind brushing against her heart.
"Feng Qi, I'll always stand by your side."
"Mm, let's eat." Feng Qi nodded with a smile, grabbed a handful of grilled skewers, and began devouring them.
Glancing at the growing pile of skewers on the table, Mu Qing hesitated.
"Am I going to bankrupt you?"
"No way! I've got plenty of money!"
"Okay then... Boss, another five hundred skewers!"
The night was hazy, nearing dawn.
After finishing their late-night snack, Feng Qi and Mu Qing arrived at the headquarters base of the Star City Military Department.
Unlike Tiger Soul and the Scarlet Research Institute, the military department's base lacked towering walls, relying instead on a simple barbed-wire fence for security.
Through the fence, they could see a vast array of weapons and equipment laid out across the base's central plaza.
(End of the Chapter)
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