Chapter 178: with translation of chapter title

Star's Hand rested on Qingni's shoulder, giving her the courage to continue with a silent gaze.

Qingni wiped the tears from her eyes and continued flipping through the diary.

In the end, Caiyi was about to rush into a brutal war, she had a premonition that she might sacrifice herself, and she and Yukong wrote many instructions and arrangements like a last will.

Most importantly——

"Yukong, if you survive and I don't, please take good care of Qingni. I know you will do that. I'm handing over all my savings to you; please treat it as Qingni's upkeep expenses."

"No matter what kind of person Qingni wants to become, please support her fully. But she must not become a battleship pilot."

"Whether it's loneliness or freedom, we've had enough of both. Promise me you won't let that child touch the sky."

This is an agreement that Yukong and Caiyi had already reached.

"So I'm an adopted child of Mom? And this Miss Caiyi… is my real mother?"

Although Qingni had long had a vague premonition of this, when the truth came to light she couldn't help but feel deeply sad: "Don't let that child touch the sky… Is that why Mom refused to let me become a pilot?"

Dedicate blessings to a beautiful world——

"Miss Qingni, never mind those reasons… you must become the strongest pilot on the Astral Express for me!"

As the sun set in the west, watching the distant clouds gradually dim, Huohuo sprang up from the hillside and shouted hard at the light curtain in the sky.

The clear sound startled the birds in the distant forest, and they fluttered up with a rustle.

——Although she knew the girls in the light curtain could never hear her, she still wanted to shout from the heart.

"That's a job that lets you freely soar in the sky! You can pierce the clouds and look down on the earth—it's simply amazing!"

Youyou beside her was also startled by her sudden rise in voice, her hands clasped together uneasily, brows slightly furrowed: "But… but… wouldn't that conflict with Miss Caiyi's dying wish? Besides, becoming a pilot is dangerous—what if the Abundance Civil War breaks out again…

"Idiot Youyou! What thing has no risk?"

Huohuo put her hands on her hips, thrust out her completely harmless chest, and grinned: "Come to think of it, isn't an adventurer's job also dangerous? But we still go out happily every day with Zhenzhen and that guy."

When Zhenzhen was mentioned, Youyou's pretty face flushed slightly and her voice softened: "That's not the same… when we encounter danger we can retreat at any time, but a pilot's combat is nine deaths to one life, with no chance to escape…

"That's why we must believe in Miss Qingni! Her talent is no less than Yukong's!"

Huohuo looked expectantly at the light curtain's fox‑girl, "Maybe the next time Star sees her, Miss Qingni will already be the strongest pilot on the Luofu Astral Express!"

Youyou lowered her head, silent for a moment, then lifted it with a gentle smile: "…Huohuo, you're right. If Miss Qingni has truly made up her mind, I'll cheer for her too. But I still hope she can stay safe and sound…

"After organizing her thoughts, Qingni planned to have a proper talk with Mom again."

"Still, she hoped Star could stay by her side; even if she couldn't step forward to negotiate, just being there would give her great courage."

Under Qingni's leadership, the group found Yukong somewhere at the Jade Gate.

"Mom…" Upon seeing Yukong, Qingni's earlier boldness vanished by half, and she became timid.

"Qingni? Why are Mr. Wartel and Star also here?" Yukong looked surprised at the three of them.

But from Yukong's tone it was clear her mood had improved greatly compared to before.

"Miss Qingni is enthusiastic; she took us on a tour of the Astral Express Sea. Along the way we heard she wanted to reconcile with Pilot Yukong, but feeling a bit shy, she boldly asked to accompany her." Wartel explained.

Upon hearing that, Yukong's expression softened considerably, and she gave a slight nod: "My daughter is immature; I've troubled you both."

"Mom!" Qingni couldn't help but shout.

"Alright, it's not early; if you have anything to say, let's talk at home."

"I have something I want to discuss with you." Seeing Yukong about to leave, Qingni grabbed her and said: "No matter what, I want to become a battleship pilot."

"……" Yukong took a deep breath and said, word by word: "We've already discussed this many times. No means no."

"But… but…" Qingni opened her mouth, but her words seemed tangled by an invisible thread, and she couldn't get them out no matter what.

Teyvat——

Natlan, the Sacred Flame Arena.

"……I still can't say it." Mavuika smiled faintly, "Facing the formidable Pilot Yukong, the little girl is still too nervous. But if you want to become a pilot, you can't keep hesitating."

Chasca set down her wine cup: "Are you feeling afraid? The truth in Caiyi's diary is her biggest trump card; if even that can't move Yukong, I'm afraid they'll keep tugging at this mother‑daughter issue for a long time.

"I actually think being straightforward would be better." Mavuika raised an eyebrow, "If it were me, I'd probably just shove Caiyi's diary straight into Yukong's hands right then."

Chasca lightly shook her head: "Mavuika, not everyone is as blunt as you. Qingni's hesitation is precisely because she cherishes Yukong—now that she knows the truth, she surely doesn't want to disappoint her mother again."

"Seeing Qingni truly torn, Star felt she should step forward and give her a push. She took out Caiyi's diary and handed it to Yukong."

"Is this… Caiyi's diary?" Yukong trembled all over: "How could this be…?"

But she soon understood everything. She drew a deep breath, remained silent for a long time, then spoke slowly: "I understand. Qingni… I'm sorry, I can't support your wish because I've already sworn an oath to someone else. I don't dare ask for your forgiveness, but I only hope… you'll hear my explanation."

"Mom, what are you saying? We're mother and daughter—how can we talk about forgiveness and explanation? No matter what you say, I'm willing to listen." Qingni hurriedly said.

Even without blood ties, Qingni has long regarded Yukong as her mother from the bottom of her heart.

Upon hearing that, Yukong's tightly knit brows gradually relaxed; she turned her body and gazed at the distant Astral Express coming and going through the Jade Gate.

"I once felt the same as you, yearning for the sky. I know what that feeling is… sailing through the universe, all around is vast emptiness, and far away lie unimaginable wonders."

"Drifting like a lone leaf in the Star Sea, some call it loneliness, but we prefer to call it freedom."

"Caiyi was like that too. We've been close friends since childhood, driving the Astral Express everywhere causing trouble, until someone caught us and brought us before General Jingyuan."

"Not long after, I and Caiyi became the most elite pilots of the Astral Shipping Bureau. That life wasn't easy; it was downright brutal—you never know if your friends will return, nor whether you yourself will."

"But to me, those are the most beautiful memories of my life. Shedding hot blood, clashing with the heavens, sweeping away demons, upholding justice—the foxfolk's life is so short; shouldn't it be burned for such a glorious cause?"

As Yukong spoke, the sky curtain gradually shifted to her memories of the past.

At that time, she and Caiyi, who had just returned from giving birth, talked at length and got along very well.

"Speaking of which, Caiyi… I really didn't expect you to come back; is commanding a battleship really that appealing to you?"

"It's incredibly appealing. It's hard and tiring, the pay is low, you're always tying your head to your waistband, and you barely make it back to Luofu a few times a year… but if I could choose again, I'd still become a battleship pilot."

"Because I have already touched the sky."