Chapter 73#
Star Pirates#
Relying on the thermal imaging lens and three-dimensional map, Ning Feng dodged several waves of searches, leading Mr. Yin through the lower decks of the ship. At first, it went smoothly, but the higher they went, the more people there were, and eventually he had to crouch in a corner, waiting for an opportunity.
Seeing the fifteen-minute deadline approaching, Ning Feng grew anxious.
“Sixteen, has Mr. Lu’s backup arrived yet?” Compared to Ning Feng’s tension, Mr. Yin seemed quite leisurely, constantly pestering him with irrelevant questions.
“Don’t rush, just follow along.” Ning Feng glanced at him.
Seriously, why wasn’t this guy afraid at all?
He didn’t look like he was fleeing for his life at all—more like a leader on an inspection tour.
But before he could think further, he suddenly heard movement outside. The subordinates, unable to find anyone, seemed to be coming back. The footsteps drew closer and finally stopped outside the door.
Signaling the other to hide, Ning Feng slipped out quietly.
Several people stood in the narrow corridor, the walls covered in chaotic shadows. Taking advantage of a blind spot, he crouched low and lunged, unleashing a combination of electromagnetic pulses and electric shocks, taking them down in a couple of moves.
Just as he was about to call Mr. Yin out, he suddenly heard a strange noise coming from a small door by the wall.
Beep! Beep!
The rhythmic beeping of electronic equipment echoed through the dim, narrow space. It didn’t sound like any mechanical device—more like some kind of instrument counting down.
Ning Feng frowned, looked around to check there was no one else, and carefully pushed the door open.
This was a passage leading to the ship’s power systems. Mechanical pipes lined both walls, the interior pitch-dark, with indicator lights above glowing fluorescent green. Following the sound, Ning Feng reached a corner and saw a red light flashing beneath a thick, round pipe. He reached out and pulled out a palm-sized device, its small timer board glowing with crimson numbers.
A time bomb!
Someone wanted to blow up the ship!
The receiver in his ear buzzed. Ning Feng froze.
He stared at the bomb for a few seconds, then immediately turned to look around, shocked to find the entire passage lined with these micro-bombs, extending all the way to the power system.
His thoughts turned to chaos. He couldn’t figure out who would be so bold as to tamper with a star pirate’s ship, let alone one carrying so many high-society nobles. Any one of those families would be enough to get someone killed several times over.
Who? And why?
Lowering his gaze to the timer board, which showed less than ten minutes, Ning Feng quickly pulled himself together, his first instinct to call Yin Beichen. But just as he was about to press the communication key, a soft voice came from behind him.
“Sixteen, what’s wrong?” Mr. Yin asked.
“You go out first. I have some urgent business to handle.” Ning Feng didn’t look up.
“What urgent business?”
“None of your concern.”
“Hmm… is it a bomb?”
Ning Feng’s finger paused on the last number. He frowned slightly, slowly turning to look at the man behind him, suspicion growing in his eyes. “How do you know?”
But Mr. Yin didn’t answer. He just smiled ambiguously, still watching him.
Suddenly, an absurd thought flashed through Ning Feng’s mind. His pupils constricted, and his eyes widened in shock.
“You planted these bombs.”
“Oh~ my Sixteen is so clever.” Mr. Yin laughed softly, slowly clapping, and walked toward him step by step. “Truly worthy of the one I’ve set my sights on.”
“You’re still on the ship. Aren’t you afraid of blowing yourself up?” Ning Feng stood motionless, his hawk-like dark eyes narrowing.
“That’s why I came to you for help.”
“And what about everyone else?”
Mr. Yin shrugged, spreading his hands.
“I’m sorry.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Ning Feng lunged, flipping out a dagger and slashing viciously at the other’s neck. Just as the blade was about to pierce skin, a powerful pressure descended from above. His legs gave way, his whole body sank, and he fell to his knees in the other’s arms.
“Ugh!”
Ning Feng struggled to stand, but found his body completely out of control. He tried to issue commands, but a string of garbled symbols flashed across his lens, and nothing responded—as if blocked by something invisible.
“Oh, falling down? How careless.” Wrapping an arm around his waist, Mr. Yin’s hand slid over the firm muscles, his expression delighted.
Catching sight of the interference device in the other’s palm, Ning Feng ground his teeth.
“You planned this all along.”
“Didn’t Mr. Lu tell you? I thought you already knew.”
Mr. Yin was about to say more when his communicator buzzed with a report from his subordinates that the ship had arrived. Looking down at the strong but limp body in his arms, he couldn’t help licking his lips. “How about we head up first? I’ll explain everything to you slow~ly later.”
Seeing he was about to be carried off, Ning Feng bit his lower lip hard, then suddenly mustered all his strength and threw a punch. Mr. Yin quickly turned his head, and the iron fist only grazed his cheek, slamming heavily into an alarm button on the wall.
Ring—
In an instant, the sharp alarm blared throughout the ship.
Within moments, sounds of commotion came from outside—chaotic voices, hurried footsteps, and faint screams.
Ning Feng gave a cold laugh. “You’d better think about how to explain yourself to others now, Mr. Yin.”
Mr. Yin’s brows furrowed slightly as he stared at the defiant face. Then, he suddenly grabbed the robot by the collar and curled his lips coolly, his red eyes gleaming with a piercing light.
“I like you more and more, Sixteen.”
The robot’s parts rattled as he was yanked, nearly spilling engine oil. But he still managed to curl his lips lazily and cast a sidelong glance.
“Thanks. Just don’t fall in love with me.”
**
Meanwhile, Yin Beichen was both monitoring the ship’s movements in real time and staying in contact with the fleet commander. Though everything was proceeding smoothly, he felt a nagging unease for some reason.
He rubbed his fingertips, then reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a yellow amulet. His eyes flickered, showing a rare hint of softness.
Just then—
Ring!!
In an instant, every alarm on the ship blared, echoing through the metal corridors, rattling everyone’s nerves.
Bright red lights flashed frantically. The guests, who had been enjoying themselves, panicked, having no idea what was happening. They rushed out of their rooms, crowding the narrow passageways, creating chaos.
Yin Beichen’s face turned cold. “What’s going on?”
Qiu Zhen, equally baffled, stood up at once. “I’ll go—”
Suddenly, his communicator buzzed with an urgent tone. Yin Beichen glanced at it and pressed to answer. “Report.”
“Sir, we have a situation!” Ou Jingshan’s booming voice came through urgently. “At coordinates 487, we’ve detected a space jump signal. An unidentified battle group has entered the upper atmosphere and is approaching you!”
Yin Beichen’s eyes tightened, his voice utterly calm. “Open a communication channel.”
“Their channel does not belong to the Federation or the Empire.”
Not the Federation or the Empire—that left only—
Star pirates.
A flash of that alluring yet ruthless face crossed his mind. Yin Beichen narrowed his eyes.
“Dispatch two reconnaissance ships to scan the vessel.” His eyes glinted with chilling cold. “I want to know how many more are hiding under the surface.”
Then, he ordered a science vessel to deploy a shield over the battlecruiser, and sent combat ships to standby nearby. After issuing all commands, he touched the amulet still held in his palm, furrowed his brows, and called Ning Feng.
The line rang for a long time with no answer. The unease in Yin Beichen’s heart grew. Glancing at the approaching rendezvous time, he suppressed his turbulent thoughts and strode quickly toward the deck.
But when he reached the agreed-upon location, the sight before him made the veins on the back of his hand bulge.
There stood Ning Feng at the bow, slumped limply in Mr. Yin’s arms. His body was clearly affected by an interference device, his neck drooping lifelessly to one side. He looked greatly distressed, his usually straight brows tightly furrowed, as if enduring something.
Warships roared in the high sky above, their armed forces facing off across the cruise liner. The hurricane from the engines howled in their ears. The moment he saw Yin Beichen, Ning Feng turned his head with difficulty, his wig fluttering wildly in the wind.
Seeing the grim-faced man, Mr. Yin waved leisurely.
“Hey~ We meet again, Mr. Lu.” He smiled seductively. “Or should I call you Major General Yin?”
“What do you want?” Yin Beichen’s face was cold, his deep voice carrying no warmth.
“Simple. Let me leave.” Mr. Yin gave an ambiguous smile. “Your army is so strong; I surely can’t win. The list I gave you is already in your hands. Don’t worry about its authenticity—when it comes to business, I’ve always been trustworthy. Otherwise, why would they use my name to swindle others? As for your warships…”
He paused, a hint of allure in his eyes. “Can I choose not to board them?”
“You can choose to walk on, or be carried on as a corpse.” Yin Beichen said coldly.
“Originally, that was the only choice.”
With a sigh of distress, Mr. Yin touched the device.
The next moment, Ning Feng in his arms spasmed, his face twisting in pain.
A flash of blood-red surged through Yin Beichen’s icy blue eyes. He clenched his fists at his sides, knuckles white, a faint scent of blood radiating from him.
Just then, the pirate’s transport hovered overhead, lowering a cable. Mr. Yin smiled slightly. “But now, I might have one more option.”
Boom!!—
A thunderous explosion erupted from the bottom of the cruise liner.
The ship rocked violently from the blast. Debris flew everywhere, and the entire liner tilted at the bow from the powerful shockwave.
Cries, shouts, alarms—all noises twisted in the explosion. The red glow in the night was as terrifying as a demon. People screamed and wept, flooding onto the decks, causing sporadic stampedes. The crew, who were supposed to maintain order, were also frightened, completely lost on how to handle the situation. The scene descended into utter chaos.
Yin Beichen’s expression didn’t change. He immediately ordered in a low voice, “Block the deck. Evacuate the guests to the stern. Prepare for boarding.”
“Yes!”
Watching the horrific scene, Ning Feng gritted his teeth. “Why are you doing this?”
“We may be pirates, but we have our own rules.” Mr. Yin spoke slowly and deliberately. “This cruise liner was operating illegally and selling goods under the chieftain’s name. It has no reason to exist.”
Ning Feng suddenly understood. The so-called “illegal” wasn’t against any national law, but against the star pirates’ internal rules. Violate them, and you’d face terrible retribution…
Wait—under the chieftain’s name?
He paused, turning to look at the other.
Catching his gaze, Mr. Yin gave an ambiguous smile.
“That’s right. 【G】 is the symbol of the star pirate chieftain.”
He continued: “But this cruise liner still turned a handsome profit every year. If I’d acted directly, those old fossils down below would’ve had plenty to say.”
“So you used the list to deliberately lure in the military fleet, making it look like the Empire was behind it.” Ning Feng gave a cold laugh.
“I was really troubled by this. Thanks to Major General Yin.” Mr. Yin tightened his arm around Ning Feng’s waist, nuzzling his face affectionately. “And of course, my lovely Sixteen played no small part.”
Hearing that, Ning Feng’s engine hummed, a feeling named regret swelling wildly inside him.
Though the cruise liner illegally sold contraband across nations, it still carried many high-society nobles. If they chose to investigate, it would still cause unnecessary trouble.
So, Yin Beichen had been right all along.
If only he had listened from the start and not provoked this guy…
Ning Feng’s dark eyes lowered slightly.
Just then—
“Are you done talking?” Yin Beichen’s eyes flashed with fierce coldness.
“Hm? Feeling protective?” Mr. Yin curled his lips, his red eyes gleaming with undisguised smugness. “Major General, this round, do you think you win or I win?”
Another explosion roared through the cruise liner, punctuating his words like a period.
“Sir!”
Just then, Ou Jingshan charged up from behind, followed by a squad of Marines armed to the teeth. Seeing the figures at the bow, they immediately raised their rifles and aimed.
“Major General, I’d advise you not to make any rash moves, or your precious Sixteen’s memory might run into trouble.” Looking at the dozen black muzzles, Mr. Yin leisurely adjusted his strap. “Oh, how could I forget? A robot doesn’t have memories—just a bunch of data, really.”
He pulled Ning Feng closer. “You haven’t actually started treating him like a person, have you?”
In an instant, Yin Beichen’s eyes blazed with a terrifying light.
“None of your business.”
Watching Yin Beichen’s grim face, Ning Feng’s feelings were exceptionally complex.
Indeed, he was just a robot.
He didn’t get hurt or feel pain, didn’t get tired or sleepy. Even sadness or happiness was just the result of program calculations. Even so-called memories were just data, erasable at any time as needed.
Right now, he was only a “virtual” person.
This man was a high-ranking star pirate, an empire fugitive. With the gap in strength between them, Yin Beichen shouldn’t give up the chance to capture him for a virtual person.
At least, the old Yin Beichen would never pass up such an opportunity.
Just then, Ning Feng felt his body lighten as he was slowly lifted into the air.
Mr. Yin used him as a shield, waving lazily at those below.
“Goodbye, Mr. Lu.”
Watching the figure ascending, Yin Beichen’s face betrayed no emotion, but his deep, dark eyes were filled with sharpness.
Ning Feng stared quietly at Yin Beichen, and Yin Beichen stared back unflinchingly, his blue eyes brimming with fierce anger and barely concealed worry.
Ning Feng’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. Then he let out a soft laugh.
“Mr. Yin, are you that afraid?”
The breath behind him caught, followed by a eerie chuckle. “Sixteen, angering me now isn’t a smart move.”
Though Mr. Yin’s voice was very calm, Ning Feng could still feel the tension in the other’s body.
“True. Down there is the Ironblood Major General of the Empire. With one order from him, any cannon on those warships could blow you to ashes.” He turned his head, leaning lazily back. “And you’re staking your life on a robot. How pathetic.”
Mr. Yin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled with the air of a superior.
“What should I do, Sixteen? Now I really want to take you with me.”
“You won’t.” Ning Feng’s expression was languid, his tongue pressed against his cheek. “Angering the supreme commander of Nora Base over a little robot? You wouldn’t make such a foolish trade.”
A wicked smile spread across Mr. Yin’s face as he tapped the man’s nose, his tone full of affection.
“Naughty.”
Just then, they reached the hatch of the ship.
Sensing that the man behind him had stopped, but still dangling in the air, Ning Feng pursed his lips and changed the subject. “Your surname is fake, isn’t it?”
“Yin is not my real surname, but it’s not fake.” Mr. Yin shrugged, then suddenly leaned forward, whispering in Ning Feng’s ear.
“My surname is Dai.”
Ning Feng froze.
Dai?
Dai Yin?
The leader of the star pirates—Dai Yin?!
“The key to the list is your name.” Before he could recover, Dai Yin whispered again. “I hope the next time I come looking for you, you’re still single and haven’t accepted Mr. Lu’s pursuit.”
He paused. “Goodbye, Blade.”
Suddenly, Ning Feng felt something soft press against his cheek. His circuits sparked, then a strong shove from behind sent his vision spinning.
“Ah Feng!!”
“Open fire!”
The call and command came simultaneously. In a blink, fierce gunfire grazed past his feet, bang-bang-bang embedding into the hatch. Space around them folded quickly, and the massive ship jumped away, vanishing before everyone’s eyes.
The wind howled. Everything before him blurred. Ning Feng’s mind went blank, an unfamiliar weightlessness leaving him disoriented as the deck below grew closer and closer…
Thump!
The next moment, Ning Feng felt a hand grab him, his waist yanked, and he slammed into a cold embrace. On impact, he felt himself spun around, with something cushioning him beneath.
That familiar yet unfamiliar scent.
Ning Feng snapped back to reality, looking up to see Yin Beichen pinned beneath him. The other seemed to have been hit hard, brows furrowed, lips pressed tight, unable to get up for a moment.
He scrambled to rise, but before he could push himself up, Yin Beichen grabbed him tightly.
“Don’t move!”
Yin Beichen barked, and Ning Feng froze in place.
Dropping his gaze to check that the body in his arms wasn’t damaged, Yin Beichen closed his eyes briefly, exhaling in satisfaction.
Suddenly, remembering something, he frowned and vigorously rubbed the side of Ning Feng’s face. Only when that spot was warm from his touch did he stop, resting his chin on the robot’s head, tightening his arms around his waist. “Don’t move…”
Ning Feng… Ning Feng didn’t know what to do. His chip was nearly overheating. He could only maintain a push-up pose, lying on top of the other.
“That damn star pirate! Pulling a dirty trick!”
Ou Jingshan, who had just arrived, roared, his curses drowned out by the rumbling explosions. When he saw the two figures locked together on the ground, he stopped dead in his tracks.
And Qiu Zhen, following behind, also saw the scene. He stroked his chin seriously. “Captain Ou, I think the mission you gave me is a bit out of my depth.”
“Shut up! You useless piece!” Hearing that, Ou Jingshan’s forehead flushed red, as if about to erupt. He glared furiously at the distant figures, eyes narrowing dangerously.
“Isn’t it just a robot? Wait till I tear you apart.”