Chapter 13#

Praying for Blessings#

The night was still, the nebula casting faint shadows.

It was just shift change time, and the base was still quite lively. Ground crew finishing their work chatted in twos and threes about how they’d spend their leisure time after rest.

Yin Beichen walked alone on the path. Occasionally someone would salute him, and he would nod slightly as he passed by.

Listening to Qiao Xi’s report took three hours, and during that time, his light brain received no communication requests.

It seemed Ning Feng hadn’t gone to the training room tonight.

Yin Beichen pressed his lips together slightly. Under the dim yellow light, his expression carried an air of indifference. Just as he planned to return to his dorm to rest, he looked up and realized he had unconsciously walked onto the path leading to the training area.

He stopped, hesitating for a moment.

Since I’m here, I might as well take a look.

The sound of leather shoes tapping against the floor echoed endlessly down the corridor, sounding somewhat urgent. When he reached the training room, he found the door tightly shut. The room was dark and empty.

Just as I thought.

A barely concealed coldness flickered in his blue eyes. Yin Beichen closed his eyes for a moment. After a long while, he looked up and let out a sigh. Walking to the window, he gazed into the sea of stars.

A wisp of white smoke streaked across the deep black curtain, dissolving into the stardust before long. Yin Beichen stood still for a while, then turned and left without looking back.

Racing recklessly through the boundless starfield until late into the night, Ning Feng felt completely refreshed, as if all his worries had been tossed out of the starfield. He felt alive again.

Finally, he slowed down, drifting through the sea of stars with the wind.

The night breeze was cool, the stars vast and countless, like gems studded on a black velvet curtain, gathering close as if within reach. In the past, every time he left the spaceport, it was either for a mission or some errand. Thinking about it now, it really had been a long time since he’d been this carefree.

Ning Feng hovered midair, letting go of the handlebars, staring at the stars above. He felt his body grow weightless.

When he thought about it seriously, it was just being stood up once—no big deal.

At worst, he just wouldn’t make plans with them again.

As for Qiao Xi…

Ning Feng narrowed his eyes dangerously.

That kid had come running to provoke him time and again, and even played the victim in front of Yin Beichen. If he wasn’t scheming, Ning Feng would eat his light brain on the spot. But they were colleagues, and Qiao Xi was Qu Yan’s subordinate, so there was no need to burn bridges yet.

That guy better not come after him. Otherwise… ha.

Ning Feng sneered coldly.

Rubbing his face vigorously, he checked the time and figured he should head back.

Suddenly, Ning Feng remembered someone mentioning there was a temple nearby, especially effective for praying for love.

Love… huh?

He rubbed his chin and checked his personal terminal. According to the Jiaolong II’s navigation system, the place was less than two starlanes away. He connected to the nav, switched to autopilot, and before long, the Jiaolong II slowly landed at the foot of a mountain.

The woods were lush and green. In the night, the mountains turned into undulating shadows, silent and deep. Only at the summit could faint, soft orange lights be seen, like a beacon guiding the way.

The temple was built halfway up the mountain. The mountain path wound and twisted. Ning Feng got off his vehicle and slowly climbed up.

This temple was small, built in the style of ancient Blue Star: red walls and golden tiles, with many immortals carved into the roof ridges. Though it was late at night, the monks were still doing their devotions. The bell tolled in the distance, and the sound of chanting never stopped. Although the place was remote, it was clear that it usually drew a bustling crowd of worshippers.

Stepping inside, Ning Feng noticed a large board at the entrance, covered in small red wooden plaques.

He had seen prayer plaques like these before, but they were usually made with electronic backings. These wooden ones were rare these days. The plaques bore many beautiful wishes: eternal union, growing old together, sudden wealth. Some worshippers had written “never part” and bought delicate locks to fasten the plaques together.

Glancing over them, he saw that the majority were for love.

Does this stuff actually work?

Ning Feng was skeptical.

“Young man, why are you here so late?”

Just then, an old male voice came from behind him. He turned to see an elderly master in a ritual robe walking over, holding a string of beads. He had a kind, benevolent face.

“Few people come to the temple at this hour,” the old master said.

“Sorry, did I disturb your rest?” Ning Feng felt a bit embarrassed.

“Haha, no, no. Coming here is fate,” the old master said cheerfully. “Young man, what are you here to pray for?”

Pray for?

Hearing this, Ning Feng froze.

Pray for money?

He had grown up in an orphanage. Every month, aside from donating some star coins to the old director, he spent the rest on the Jiaolong II. Anyway, the base provided for his food and lodging, so there weren’t many places to use money.

Pray for love?

He certainly wanted to. But he was infected with the bug venom, and there was no sign of an antidote. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. Saying he wanted to grow old with someone seemed a bit far-fetched.

As for Yin Beichen…

Ning Feng twitched the corner of his mouth.

The Yin family was prominent. He was the only son of a five-star general, with a boundless future and real ability. Everything Ning Feng had just thought of—he probably looked down on it all.

“Master, there’s nothing I want to pray for,” Ning Feng said, shaking his head with a smile.

“Haha, haven’t you heard? No one comes to the temple without a reason,” the master laughed. Seeing the man’s embarrassed expression, he patted his shoulder slowly. “If there’s a wish in your heart, the luck you hope for can descend upon you. Even something as simple as good health—surely you have that?”

Ning Feng’s breath caught, his heart pounding.

He saw through me?

He stared at the master for a long time, but the other man still smiled kindly, accepting his almost intrusive gaze. After a long moment, Ning Feng finally relaxed and curved his lips slightly. “You’re right. Then I’ll pray for good health too.”

Ning Feng quickly transferred two donations using his light brain. The old master smiled and handed him two red wooden plaques.

“Write any wish you have on these,” he added, “Any wish at all.”

Any wish…

Ning Feng first wrote on one plaque a wish for the old director of the orphanage to be healthy. Then he looked down at the other vermillion plaque, pressing his lips together.

After a long moment, he slowly wrote a few words.

[I hope Ning Feng

Is healthy and lives a long life.]

He thought for a moment, then added a few characters after his own name.

[And Yin Beichen]

When he finished, he turned the plaque over and signed his own name. Finally, he tied it with a red ribbon and hung it in a corner of the prayer board. He checked it several times to make sure it was secure, then let go.

Ning Feng pressed his palms together, closed his eyes, and murmured silently.

Thank you.

The night breeze stirred the leaves, rustling softly.

The small wooden plaque swayed in the wind, colliding with others and making a crisp sound, as if in response.

When entering a house, greet the people; when entering a temple, pay respects to the gods. Ning Feng also lit three sticks of incense and bowed, then planned to return to the base. But just as he was about to leave the gate, the old master called out to him.

“Young man, come, come. Take this.” The old master stuffed something small into his hand.

Ning Feng looked down at it. It was a yellow talisman folded into a triangle, with the words “marriage fate” written on it.

“What is this?”

“A love talisman.”

The old master gave him a knowing wink. “The love talismans here are very effective. Give it to someone, and it will make your wish come true.”

“…Give it to who?”

“That I wouldn’t know. Who do you want to give it to?”

Ning Feng: …

Seeing the old man’s “I know” expression, Ning Feng suddenly wished he could dive into a black hole. His usual silver tongue was tied now; he couldn’t utter a single word. All he could do was murmur a thank you, tuck the love talisman into his inner pocket, and quickly walk away.

“Hope you two come together next time!” the old master called out warmly.

Ning Feng… Ning Feng awkwardly waved back and sped up his escape.

He ran all the way down the mountain until he reached his vehicle, then finally caught his breath. He mused that the old master there was far too mysterious. Next time, he’d come during a busy time to avoid being singled out.

Once his breathing steadied, he touched the pocket over his chest, feeling the love talisman’s position. A slow smile spread across his face.

Give it to someone, huh…

Thinking this, Ning Feng got on his bike, ready to leave.

Halfway along the road, as he passed an intersection, suddenly a needle-like sting shot through the back of his neck.

“Tch…”

Ning Feng yelped in pain, immediately stopping the vehicle. He reached back and pressed a hand to the scar.

The skin under his palm was burning hot, muscles twitching, as if something was writhing beneath the surface. Based on past experiences, when this happened, it meant that nearby…

There were bugs?