Chapter 9#
Training#
After the reception, Ning Feng was spinning like a top.
The reconnaissance had gathered a great deal of important data, and he spent time in the war room analyzing and discussing it with various field commanders.
What was certain was that currently, many Zerg were lurking on the fringe planets, and had even bred mid-level swarms. More terrifyingly, they had no way of knowing how many such planets existed.
They cross-referenced the data, initially shortlisted over a dozen targets, and dispatched several squads of soldiers to cleanse them. They did manage to eliminate a few sizable nests.
Now, in addition to handling daily affairs, Ning Feng had to carve out time each day to accompany Yin Beichen on inspections of the camp.
A squadron of Phantom fighters tore across the sky, followed by a transport ship that dove swiftly and hovered over the landing pad. The engine blast whipped up a gale, and amid the deafening roar, well-equipped soldiers crouched and boarded the cabin in order.
Kicking up dust, Ning Feng leaned against the guardrail on the upper level of the starport, holding a data pad. “The Marine First Squad has completed cleanup operations on Planets A, B, and E and is returning to base. Additionally, five level-six Hydralisk nests were discovered on Planet D, and the operation needs reinforcements. The Third Squad is fully assembled and awaiting orders at the starport, including combat units and medical transports.”
Yin Beichen braced his hands on the guardrail, his golden hair streaming in the wind. His eyes were fixed on the orderly ranks below. “Send an extra squad of marines to Planet D.”
“Yes, sir.” Ning Feng pressed his tongue against his cheek, drew out the word as he rapidly entered commands. “Then I’ll arrange for one squad to return for resupply, and have the fifth squad rotate in for garrison duty.”
“Mm.”
“Also, Qu Yan just sent a message regarding the antidote. He said he’d like to report to you in person. Do you think that’s necessary?”
Recently, the troops had been engaging the Zerg in close combat.
On the bright side, the research department had obtained sufficient samples. With everyone working day and night, there had been a breakthrough in the new antidote. But the bad news was that the number of infected individuals was rising exponentially.
However, as Qu Yan put it, more clinical subjects meant more data—which was actually good news.
Ning Feng: …
Sometimes, he really couldn’t understand what those researchers were thinking.
Yin Beichen immediately looked up at him upon hearing this.
“Set it up as soon as possible.”
“Then let’s tentatively schedule it for tomorrow at three.”
Ning Feng’s honey-colored fingers moved swiftly across the screen. His gaze landed on the final report point, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
“Lastly, it’s about that communication channel issue from before.”
Hearing this, Yin Beichen turned around.
On the day of duty, the signal had been normal up until a minute before Qiao Xi entered the channel. Then, an anomalous current fluctuation was detected. The frequency was very weak and lasted only a few seconds; if not for repeated checks, Ning Feng wouldn’t have found it. Still, such anomalies fell within normal range—occurring a dozen times a day—and couldn’t definitively prove the channel had been compromised.
Yin Beichen leaned slowly back against the guardrail, lowering his eyes in thought.
“What about Qiao Xi? Have you investigated him?”
“Yes.”
Ning Feng immediately regretted saying that—it made it seem like he was settling personal scores. Yin Beichen showed no reaction, simply looked at him, waiting for more. Uncomfortable under those blue eyes, the man shifted his stance.
“Nothing suspicious. His background is clean.”
Ning Feng had even looked into Qiao Xi’s elementary school records, down to his final exam scores.
That guy was practically the perfect child—top student with excellent conduct all the way. He skipped grades, was admitted to a prestigious school on exceptional merit, and after graduation, smoothly entered a research institute. A year ago, Qu Yan took a liking to him and assigned him to the base’s research department.
Everyone who had worked with him gave the same assessment: introverted, with simple interpersonal relationships. He either slept or buried himself in the lab. Sometimes he talked more to samples than to real people.
Especially in recent months, people often saw him muttering to the Zerg samples.
Ning Feng curled his lip.
Qu Yan was right—this guy was just a data-obsessed nerd.
“I’ll continue monitoring him,” he said, crossing his long legs as he lounged against the railing. “Any other instructions?”
Yin Beichen didn’t comment, just silently watched the man.
Suddenly, the surrounding noise faded away.
After waiting a moment with no further response, Ning Feng straightened up, smoothed his disheveled hair, and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll get back to work.”
Yin Beichen stared at him for a long moment, his eyes deep and unreadable.
“About that reception—”
“Okay, I’ll get going.”
Ning Feng turned off his tablet and quickly left the platform.
Watching the tall figure walk away, even greeting ground personnel with a grin as if nothing had happened, Yin Beichen closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. A rare hint of irritation flickered across his handsome face.
“Troublesome.”
**
The wartime base was extremely tense, with new intelligence coming in almost every minute. Despite the pressure, Ning Feng always managed to squeeze in some time at the training room every day.
This was a habit he’d developed over the years.
Only through high-intensity physical training could he clear his mind and keep his thoughts cool.
At five-thirty in the morning, supply ships were taking off and landing at the starport, the entire tarmac bustling, while the base’s training room was empty.
Ning Feng tapped on the LCD screen, selected a terrain and a mech model, then strapped on the equipment and prepared to train.
[Terrain selected: Stone Forest.]
[Heavy close-combat mech selected.]
[Entering virtual scenario.]
A milky white mist like gossamer filled the valley. The massive mech moved through the jagged rocks, surprisingly agile for a heavy close-combat machine.
Just as Ning Feng was about to activate biological search, the mechanical female voice came through the optical brain again.
[A visitor has joined the training.]
[Mode switched to Duel.]
Ning Feng: ?
Someone joined?
At this hour, regular combat personnel were either fast asleep or gearing up for duty. Who else besides him would be free enough to come to the training room? And they immediately switched the mode?
He felt a bit annoyed, suddenly regretting his random choice of a heavy mech. If the other person was using an attack model, things could get tricky.
But then again, difficulty made it fun, right?
Ning Feng licked his lips, activated stealth mode, and used the terrain to hide behind a giant boulder. The massive machine blended into the surroundings.
In duel mode, both parties couldn’t see each other’s positions or mech types unless caught by radar. Heavy mechs were at a disadvantage in movement speed, but excelled in stationary sensing and search. Soon, Ning Feng spotted a red dot on his radar.
Here it comes!
The faint hum of an engine reached his ears—barely audible, but he locked onto its position. Ning Feng crouched low. After a moment, a speed-type mech appeared silently in his field of vision.
It moved slowly, not bothering to hide its trail, almost as if baiting him. If he hadn’t been sure only one person had entered, he’d have suspected an ambush.
Ning Feng held his breath, waiting for the right moment.
As soon as the enemy entered attack range, he gunned the engines and charged.
The massive mech hurtled forward like a nuclear bomb. Just as it seemed about to collide head-on, the speed mech bent low, leaped gracefully over Ning Feng, and struck with a light dagger.
Startled, Ning Feng whirled around and parried.
Boom!
A dull thud—energy shield met light dagger, sending white sparks flying.
That stance…
Ning Feng’s eyes widened, his movement faltering.
“Beichen?”
“Attack me!”
The cool voice came through the channel, tinged with barely concealed excitement. He threw a punch that slammed hard into Ning Feng’s midsection. The heavy thud sounded like hitting some kind of biological armor—the force couldn’t penetrate.
Ning Feng staggered, took two unsteady steps, then quickly recovered, flashing a grin.
“Yes, sir.”
He kicked the power system to full. The roaring engine echoed through the valley in an instant as the giant mech launched high into the air, channeling all its explosive power. He raised both fists and slammed them down.
BOOM!!—
Rocks and sand flew. A massive crater appeared on the ground, but Yin Beichen had vanished. The moment Ning Feng turned around, he saw Yin Beichen soaring overhead, the light dagger grazing his right arm.
Two black shadows weaved through the stone forest, blades flashing. Everything around them was enveloped in a haze of steel, with only the clang of metal echoing continuously.
They gave it their all, unleashing every ounce of physical power, using the terrain to their advantage in a fierce back-and-forth fight.
But against a speed-type mech, Ning Feng’s defensive model still had the disadvantage. In the end, Yin Beichen disarmed and crippled him, destroyed the power core, and pressed a light dagger against the cockpit.
“You lose.” Yin Beichen was slightly out of breath.
Ning Feng frowned, staring at him silently.
“Surrender.” The light dagger pressed in a little farther.
“Heh, naive!” Ning Feng snorted.
His hands moved deftly across the controls. In an instant, an eerie red light filled the cockpit. The crippled mech emitted an ominous mechanical whine, then burst into a blinding white light.
Yin Beichen’s expression tightened as he retreated at full speed.
Before he could even land from his evasive roll, the deafening shockwave from the explosion sent him flying.
BOOM!!—
The mech’s self-destruction carved a huge crater into the ground. Even though Yin Beichen had escaped immediately, his mech was largely destroyed. As for Ning Feng’s mech, there was nothing left but scraps.
Yin Beichen pursed his lips, tapped a few buttons on his optical brain, and exited the virtual scenario. The moment he was back, he saw Ning Feng lying spread-eagled on the cold metal floor, groaning.
“Yin Beichen! Are you even human?!” Ning Feng gritted his teeth.
He knew full well that Ning Feng’s heavy mech was slow and could only tank damage. Instead of ending the fight quickly when he had the advantage, that bastard had stripped his mech of all combat capability, leaving him helpless on the ground.
How was that fair?!
“You still have that habit of going down together?” Yin Beichen shook his arms as he walked over. He hadn’t had such an exhilarating fight in a long time.
“Hmph! If I’m going down, you’re not getting off easy.” After a long moment, Ning Feng finally struggled to sit up.
Even though it was a virtual scenario, the sensory system was still linked during the explosion. Feeling like your body had been blown to pieces was far from pleasant.
Yin Beichen tightened his lips, looking down at him from above.
“Still no improvement after all these years.”
“And Little Chenchen is still just as ruthless.”
Ning Feng’s hawk-like eyes narrowed slightly.
They stared at each other in silence, the air around them freezing for an instant.
Bright white light poured down from above, illuminating the room. The screen on the wall replayed their battle, and the surround sound system blared the moment of their clash.
[Beichen?]
[Attack me!]
Ning Feng: …
Yin Beichen: …
Suddenly, Ning Feng burst out laughing.
Yin Beichen still had no expression, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. He bent down and extended a hand to the man.
“Idiot.”
“Who are you calling an idiot?!”
Ning Feng grabbed the hand and tried to stand up, but suddenly lost his balance and crashed hard to the floor.
“Ss—”
The back of his head throbbed with pain. Dazed and dizzy, he felt his lower body go numb. Grimacing in agony, he looked up and met a pair of deep blue eyes, filled with surprise.
The white light was a bit blinding. He saw that clear, handsome face hovering above him. He involuntarily sucked in a breath, catching the faint, cool scent of Yin Beichen.
BOOM!!—
At that moment, the replay of the mech’s self-destruction boomed through the training room; the deafening blast rattled his eardrums, just like Ning Feng’s racing heartbeat.