Chapter 134

Leaving Da Yang Group, Ding Huan directly piloted the Blue Star to Kunlun.

What saddened Ding Huan was that he spent nearly half a day searching the cave where the Star House had been, but found not a single talisman, not even a single hair.

What belongs to you is yours; what doesn't cannot be forced. Ding Huan could only leave Kunlun Mountain once more.

……

Xiuhu Community, Yiling City.

A spaceship landed in this community, startling Yiling City's authorities.

Fortunately, Dou Qingzhi called in time, and they learned it was a Security Bureau vessel—Director Qu had returned.

"Yiyi."

Yan Quan, who had been anxious and fearful, finally exhaled deeply upon seeing Qu Yi step out of the spaceship.

"Teacher Ding, welcome, welcome."

While Yan Quan's eyes were fixed solely on Qu Yi, Hearing Qu Yonghe had already noticed Ding Huan and Qi Qi Xinyue walking with him.

Seeing Ding Huan's eyes had recovered, Hearing Qu Yonghe thought this was only natural.

If Teacher Ding could cure Qu Yi's illness, how could he not cure his own eyesight?

This eased some of his guilt; otherwise, the Qu family owed him far too much.

Yan Quan then remembered Ding Huan:

"Teacher Ding, we've been waiting for you—finally you've come! Who is this?"

"This is Qi Qi Xinyue, a friend of mine."

Ding Huan quickly introduced Qi Qi Xinyue.

"Teacher Ding, is that the Federation's meteorite you're carrying?"

Hearing Qu Yonghe, a cold-weapon specialist, noticed the material in Ding Huan's hand immediately after greeting him.

"Yes, that's the one. I'd like you to forge me a long spear," Ding Huan said.

Hearing Qu Yonghe shook his head:

"It's impossible. We've all tried—me, the Ji family, the Fan family—we couldn't melt it at all."

So it was true. Ding Huan finally understood.

That was why Fan Yibing, after agreeing to give him the material, had also sent him a halberd—because the material truly couldn't be melted.

"Oh, that's fine," Ding Huan said, turning and tossing the material back onto the Starship.

"Come, let's go to my home for a while," Hearing Qu Yonghe invited warmly.

Ding Huan thought: this parting might be final. He brought Qi Qi Xinyue to Hearing Qu Yonghe's home to catch up.

Upon Ding Huan's arrival, the entire Qu household was extremely warm—Xing Sheng and Qu Fei went to prepare food, while Yan Quan pulled Qu Yi aside for a private chat.

Hearing Qu Yonghe accompanied Ding Huan and Qi Qi Xinyue in the parlor, sipping tea and chatting about everyday matters.

At this moment, Hearing Qu Yonghe's heart was filled with profound emotion.

When alien forces invaded Earth and the Federation Army suffered devastating losses, on the brink of annihilation, Qu Yi, Director of the Puhai Security Bureau, rushed to the frontlines.

At that time, neither Hearing Qu Yonghe nor Yan Quan held any hope.

Not only did they no longer expect their daughter to return—they no longer believed any human on Earth could survive.

If the Federation Army had been wiped out, how could alien civilizations spare ordinary civilians? It was unthinkable.

What they never expected was that Qu Yi returned—and they received news that the alien elites had been destroyed.

……

"Yiyi, Teacher Ding really is extraordinary—was it him who helped defeat those alien elites?"

Though Yan Quan didn't know for sure, the only person she knew with such ability was Ding Huan, so she assumed it was him.

Qu Yi nodded:

"Yes. Without Brother Ding, the alien civilization might have already wiped out humanity and seized Earth."

"Who is this Miss Xinyue? She seems very close to Teacher Ding."

Yan Quan asked in a lowered voice.

Qu Yi fell silent for a long while:

"I don't know. When I met Brother Ding, she was always with him."

Qu Yi herself wanted to ask clearly, but she found it hard to bring up.

Later, she accidentally heard Qi Qi Xinyue say she had lived with Ding Huan for these past months—then she vaguely understood.

"Mom, I need to tell you something."

Qu Yi knew Ding Huan would soon leave, so she needed her parents' consent.

"What is it?" Yan Quan froze. Seeing Qu Yi's uneasy expression, she too felt a sudden unease.

"Brother Ding is about to leave Earth in his warship…"

"Where to?"

Before Qu Yi could finish, Yan Quan blurted out.

Qu Yi shook her head:

"I don't know. Miss Xinyue says it's probably to wander the cosmos. I think—I think…"

"No, absolutely not…"

Before Qu Yi could finish, Yan Quan knew exactly what she was thinking.

Qu Yi stood up:

"Mom, my life was saved by Brother Ding. What does it matter to me if I go wander the cosmos with him?"

Yan Quan realized her words had been too harsh; she struggled to calm her emotions:

"Yiyi, your mother doesn't disapprove of you being with Teacher Ding."

"If Teacher Ding says he's willing to marry you, your father and I have no objections—we'll agree immediately."

"Mom…" Qu Yi looked at Yan Quan, puzzled.

Yan Quan gave her daughter a pained glance:

"Yiyi, does Teacher Ding love you?"

Qu Yi froze, then instinctively shook her head.

All her interactions with Ding Huan had been him helping her—was Ding Huan truly smitten with her?

Yet their conversations had never touched on romantic feelings.

Qu Yi instinctively touched her face, uncertain—she was delicate, but far from breathtakingly beautiful.

Yan Quan sighed:

"Yiyi, the way Miss Qi looks at Teacher Ding is like a lover's gaze."

"And you just said Miss Qi has been living with Teacher Ding these past few months—what do you think their relationship is?"

"This…"

Though she hated to admit it, Qu Yi knew—it was unquestionably a romantic relationship.

Who lives together for months without being lovers?

Yan Quan added again:

"Miss Qi doesn't look as beautiful as you because she's scarred."

"In truth, her appearance and figure are far more beautiful than any girl I've ever seen—do you think Teacher Ding's skills can heal her scars?"

Qu Yi fell silent. Ding Huan had healed her—even restored her eyes after they were gouged out. Was a mere scar really nothing to him?

Seeing her daughter fall silent, Yan Quan sighed:

"Yiyi, Teacher Ding is a good man, worthy of your lifelong trust—but he already has someone by his side."

"Our Qu family isn't a great house, but we would never destroy another's family or become the third party."

"If you follow Teacher Ding and Miss Qi into the stars, what are you then?"

"Do they want you to come with them? Or do they not accept you at all?"

"Mom…"

Qu Yi could no longer hold back—tears fell silently.

She had already made up her mind—even if her parents disapproved, she would follow Brother Ding Huan into the stars.

But the one thing she never imagined was that she was the third party, a woman destroying another's family.

Teacher Ding had saved her multiple times—even given her his own eyes—and now she would destroy his family? Was she, Qu Yi, utterly without propriety, righteousness, integrity, or shame?

Yan Quan watched her daughter's silent tears and pulled her into her arms:

"Yiyi, I feel your determination and your attachment to Teacher Ding—but we cannot do this."

…

The Qu family's banquet was lavishly prepared; Ding Huan rarely drank, but thinking of his imminent departure from Earth, he shared several cups with Qu Yonghe.

The meal ended happily, and Ding Huan took his leave.

Qu Yonghe, Yan Quan, and Qu Yi walked Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue all the way to the Blue Star.

"Yiyi, this is for you." Ding Huan pulled out a notebook.

It recorded his insights and reflections on the first spear technique of the Nine Spears: Soul Shatter.

Originally, Ding Huan had intended to teach Qu Yi all Nine Spears.

But later he realized—beyond the first spear he had already comprehended—he could not write down the others at all, for he had no clear understanding.

Still, the first spear was enough on Earth.

If Qu Yi establishes her Foundation, this one spear alone could fight that demon dragon.

If she cannot establish her Foundation, even if she learned the other spears, she'd still be capped below Foundation Establishment—no real difference.

"Brother Ding, thank you." Qu Yi took the notebook.

Ding Huan noticed Qu Yi's eyes seemed slightly swollen—he asked:

"Qu Yi, is there something I can help you with?"

Qu Yi quickly shook her head:

"Brother Ding, may I ask you one question?"

Ding Huan smiled:

"Of course—ask me anything."

Qu Yi murmured an "Mm," her voice barely audible:

"Brother Ding… why are you so kind to me?"

It was a question she had never understood—if Ding Huan truly loved her, she would ask if he'd consider taking two wives.

After all, they were all wandering the stars, never knowing where tomorrow would take them—what harm was there in dying together in the cosmos with Brother Ding?

Ding Huan's gaze drifted to the distant sky. After a long moment, he said:

"Yiyi, do you believe in reincarnation?"

Qu Yi stared at Ding Huan, bewildered—reincarnation? Even if humans had reincarnation, who could possibly know?

Ding Huan looked into Qu Yi's eyes:

"Yiyi, your eyes are the purest in the entire world—without exception. In my past life, my eyes were gouged out—and you gave me yours."

"To me, even if I gave my life to you in this life, I would do so willingly—and I've only done a little."

"Ah…" Qu Yi stared at Ding Huan, stunned.

The answer was not what she had imagined, even somewhat absurd, yet she heard in it Ding Huan's heartfelt sincerity.

Do people truly have reincarnation?

"Yi Yi, thank you." Ding Huan reached out and brushed his hand through Qu Yi's long hair, gazed deeply at Qu Yi, then turned and walked toward the Blue Star.

With this departure, no old friends remain.

(That's all for today's update, friends! Good night! Please support with monthly votes!)