Chapter 12#
Standing Up#
Since many people at the base had missions, the training room was not very crowded tonight. Ning Feng used a mix of persuasion and coercion, carrots and sticks, and finally managed to send the last person out.
This training room was much larger than the previous one. Aside from a variety of professional training equipment, there was a dedicated fighting area in the middle.
Actually, he cleared the room for no other reason—if Yin Beichen lost and word got out, that face-obsessed guy would definitely sulk for a few days. He just didn’t want to cause trouble for himself.
Silently rationalizing his own actions, Ning Feng glanced at the large clock.
Only half an hour had passed. Yin Beichen should still be eating.
He thought for a moment and decided to check the training room equipment while also picking out the combat scenarios and mechs for the upcoming spar.
Rapidly analyzing the characteristics of each model in his head, Ning Feng predicted which type his opponent might choose and devised counter-tactics simultaneously. He even simulated the entire process in his mind.
Heavy firepower, armed reconnaissance, long-range artillery, speed-type mechs…
Speed-type.
Suddenly, Ning Feng recalled the last time he fought Yin Beichen—that satisfying, all-out match. Those deep blue eyes, the slightly erratic breath brushing against his face, and the sticky sensation of skin contact…
Ning Feng: …
He wiped his face vigorously and looked up at the big clock. Earlier in the afternoon, he had someone turn off the annoying chime, so there wouldn’t be any more surprises this time.
After a moment’s thought, he decided to double-check it himself.
But by the time Ning Feng had inspected every piece of equipment in the training room, Yin Beichen still hadn’t arrived.
Ning Feng’s brow furrowed.
What’s going on?
Almost an hour had passed, and the mess hall was already closed. Why hasn’t he come yet?
Could something urgent have come up?
Ning Feng opened his light brain to make a call, but then remembered that Yin Beichen had a high-level meeting this afternoon.
Whenever there was a meeting with those old fogies from the Empire, it was never on time. Many times, Ning Feng had even brought food back for Yin Beichen to eat while the meeting continued. New developments with the Zerg required a lot of discussion, so calling him now might disturb him. Besides, Yin Beichen was a workaholic—he never rested until the job was done. It was normal for him to be late.
Barely suppressing his restlessness, Ning Feng simply dragged over a folding chair and sat down in the middle of the open space, crossing his legs.
Time ticked by, minute after minute. The large clock above him calmly and neutrally reported the numbers.
Ning Feng waited and waited.
He waited from inside the room to the doorway, then from the doorway back inside, until he had covered every corner of the room. He waited until the tenth cargo ship landed, until the corridor lights in the office building went out on schedule. Still, Yin Beichen did not appear.
After the clock had passed the second hour, Ning Feng finally admitted that he had been stood up.
Fine, Yin Beichen. You actually dared to stand me up!
No matter how important the meeting, two hours was enough to finish anything. If something really came up, fine. But why didn’t he even send a message?!
They had known each other for so many years—they had sparred countless times. Yin Beichen definitely knew his habits. So why…
His stomach tightened, as if something was burning in his chest. Ning Feng clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the surging anger. His fingertips tapped rapidly on the light brain, pulling up Yin Beichen’s contact. But just before dialing, he stopped.
Staring fixedly at the name “Yin Beichen,” Ning Feng closed his eyes after a long moment and turned off the screen.
Maybe he really was busy with something?
And this wasn’t even a real appointment. Yin Beichen had never agreed to come, nor had they set a time. At best, it was just casual conversation to fill the silence—like saying, “Let’s have a meal sometime,” so polite and so offhand.
Only I took it seriously.
The night deepened, pitch-black enveloping the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, while the training room’s lights blazed an eye-piercing white.
Ning Feng leaned against the doorway and looked back at the empty training room.
The cold clock remained indifferent, ticking forward. The overhead light cast a tiny shadow beneath him, exposing his ridiculous actions. A chill gradually crept into his heart, dousing his earlier rage but leaving him even more stifled.
Ning Feng let out a quiet laugh.
He shouldn’t have turned off the chime—at least then he’d have a song to listen to at the hour.
With a soundless, long sigh, an uncontrollable fatigue surged from his feet upward. Ning Feng loosened his collar, turned off all the lights, and decided to head back early to rest.
“Huh? Brother Feng, why are you still waiting here?”
Ning Feng followed the voice. It was Big Beard from the heavy factory, followed by a few mechanics. They seemed to have just come back from some fun. But what he said…
“What do you mean?” the man frowned.
Big Beard and the others exchanged looks.
“You don’t know? The Major General went to the bar with that Qiao Xi kid.”
“…What did you say?”
His voice suddenly rose half a pitch, but no one noticed. The group just nodded in agreement.
“We saw them at the bar. They were still sitting there when we left.”
“Ugh, as soon as the Major General showed up, even the music at the bar got quieter. No fun.”
“Same at the last party. If he’s going to be with Qiao Xi from now on, are they going to keep meeting at bars? How are we supposed to have a good time?”
“Shut up, you idiot.”
…
Ning Feng couldn’t hear anything after that.
He only felt a ringing in his ears, as if something had drowned out all sound. After the shock came a numb daze, and then, many things suddenly made sense.
Only if you cared would you give someone gifts, answer their calls, eat with them, attend events with them, go to bars together…
Looking back at himself, all he and Yin Beichen had were work exchanges and a little bit of shared experience from the military academy. In short, they were just alumni. And the place they spent the most time together? The training room.
Ning Feng bared his teeth, wanting nothing more than to laugh.
“Brother Feng, are you okay?” The others noticed something was off. “You look terrible.”
“Ah, I’m fine.” He glanced at them and gave a stiff smile. “By the way, Big Beard, did my ‘Soaring Dragon II’ get a new engine?”
Caught off guard, Big Beard paused for a moment. “Yeah, it’s all set and parked in the garage. Tomorrow I’ll take you—”
“No need, I know where it is.” Ning Feng waved his hand and walked deeper into the hallway. “Good thing I’m free tonight. I’ll go give it a spin.”
“Huh? Now?”
“It’s fine. I know what I’m doing.”
Ning Feng turned back and flashed everyone a bright smile—one that felt strangely unfamiliar. “Get some rest, everyone.”
With that, his tall figure melted into the darkness.
**
The garage was empty at night, the pale fluorescent lights illuminating the space brightly. Ning Feng scanned his iris lock, and the heavy mechanical door slid open with a sound. Inside the garage sat a uniquely shaped, dark red maglev vehicle.
He walked over and carefully stroked its tough body.
“Brother, long time no see.”
This was Ning Feng’s beloved car—the Soaring Dragon II.
Simple, pure, and powerful—that was the Soaring Dragon II in a nutshell. After upgrading to an ion thruster, the massive engine mounted at the rear was quite eye-catching.
From the very beginning, this vehicle was designed only for speed and maneuverability. Its open, unrestrained cockpit and lightweight armored materials meant its defense was virtually zero. The frequently leaking radiation oil and the inexplicably freezing body panels were often more lethal than enemy bullets. But even so, its incredible maneuverability made it a top-tier prize in the eyes of bandits and mercenaries.
However, Ning Feng’s vehicle was special. Most maglev cars were single-seaters, but the Soaring Dragon II had a back seat.
Back in the military academy, when training stress was high, he would often drag Yin Beichen along for a joyride.
It wasn’t because they were close—it was because Yin Beichen, the outstanding student, was the teacher’s pride and joy. If they got caught, at least Ning Feng wouldn’t be scolded too badly with Yin Beichen along.
After graduating and joining the camp, discipline became stricter, and opportunities to sneak out dwindled. Later, when they fought the Zerg and Yin Beichen was promoted to Major General while he became his adjutant, there was even less time.
But Ning Feng never forgot about this brother. Whenever he had a chance, he would ask Big Beard to upgrade the hardware. He spent nearly a third of his monthly allowance maintaining his beloved car.
He patted the soft cushion of the back seat and pressed his lips together.
Back then, to add that seat, he had someone remove an equipment slot, sacrificing quite a bit of performance. Sure enough, forcibly added things only served to comfort oneself. If it wasn’t meant to be, it wasn’t.
Maybe he should have Big Beard remove it someday.
Ning Feng rode the Soaring Dragon II out of the garage, exchanged a few words with the ground crew, and turned into the small dock. Before setting off, he checked his light brain again and jabbed at the communication list once.
Then he hit the throttle and sped off like the wind.
The car raced at full speed, charging straight into space.
The pitch-black sky enveloped him, and the massive base beneath his feet gradually shrank until it was just a twinkling speck. Dazzling, brilliant colors shimmered before his eyes, drifting lightly. Magnificent ribbons of light streaked across the night sky, flickering on and off. Countless stars sped past beside him, the cold wind slapping hard against his face—stinging slightly, but pleasant.
The gloom that had been weighing on his chest vanished. Ning Feng felt like a dragon soaring through the sky, utterly free.
“Awesome!!”
He shouted, executing a sharp tailspin that left a beautiful white swirl tracing through the night.