Chapter 6

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Protagonist:

Xuan Ge

Shen Wu Xian Zhou, Seventh Port.

This is a specialized zone for interfacing with interstellar merchants, handling bulk cargo, and processing special diplomatic affairs.

Compared to the bustle of the Xingcha Hai Zhong Shu, this place appears more orderly and solemn.

Massive berths unfold toward deep space like steel petals; energy conduits glow faintly beneath the deck like blood vessels, maintaining the stable environment required for ship takeoffs and landings.

At this moment, beside the largest main berth, a farewell with a slightly peculiar tone is underway.

Yin Zhi stands ramrod straight, like a sculpture.

His left hand rests on his chest, his right hand extends forward, performing a Pure Beauty Knight Order standard farewell salute textbook-perfect enough to be recorded in manuals.

Sunlight falls on him; that red hair seems to burn, and the star-shaped patterns in his green eyes flash with sincere light.

Opposite him, Xuan Ge moved almost the instant Yin Zhi's motion began.

Not deliberate, but a conditioned response.

He clasped his fists with both hands, feet planted shoulder-width, and executed a clean, crisp Xianzhou Ancient Rite.

The speed, the practiced ease, as if rehearsed a thousand times.

An invisible energy barrier separates the two; the port wind cannot stir their hems, yet it makes this scene appear all the more..... steeped in ritual.

"Pure Beauty above."

Yin Zhi spoke, his voice clear and bright, every word enunciated distinctly.

"I, Yin Zhi, swear in the name of a Pure Beauty Knight, I will not fail the General's entrustment.

The Pure Beauty Knight Order shall stand shoulder to shoulder with the Shen Wu Army, sparing no effort to rescue all residents of planets threatened around the Sui Xing Dai, assisting them in completing relocation, away from the fires of war."

He spoke with utmost seriousness, even carrying a kind of plainly visible..... joy.

Those beautiful green eyes shone bright, as if what he had accepted was not a dangerous, heavy rescue mission, but some sacred, celebratory mission.

In his view, this was undoubtedly a great practice of the Path of Pure Beauty.

To save lives and shelter the innocent under the shadow of Destruction — what could better manifest the true essence of "Pure Beauty"?

Xuan Ge looked at him, the playfulness usually in his golden eyes faded, replaced by rare gravity.

He maintained the clasped-fist posture, nodding slightly.

"Pure.... uh.... Emperor Bow Arbiter above...." He paused, as if he nearly blurted out "Pure Beauty" by habit, the corner of his mouth twitching imperceptibly before he continued.

"Yin Zhi, this bond and sense of responsibility of yours and the Knight Order, Shen Wu Xian Zhou will remember in its heart.

Your heart of Pure Beauty burns sincere as fire; I believe the Pure Beauty Star God Idlirra, too, must feel comforted and proud to have a follower like you."

"General Shen Wei!"

Yin Zhi seemed deeply moved by these words; his voice rose, his saluting posture growing even more erect.

"Knight Yin Zhi!"

Xuan Ge also responded subconsciously, his clasped fists tightening.

The two gazed at each other; the air seemed to crackle with invisible waves named "Gravity" and "Sense of Mission."

Standing three steps to Xuan Ge's side and rear, Ling Sha silently, deeply inhaled.

Her face wore the flawless, befitting smile of a Chief Strategist, but her hands hanging at her sides had fingertips already digging slightly into her palms.

She had to exert all her strength to suppress the urge to drag her own General — who periodically suffered "drama queen episodes" — aside and beat him up.

A few seconds later, she shifted forward half a step, her smile still perfect, only her voice now carried a few degrees of appropriately measured, businesslike gentleness.

"Shen Wu Xian Zhou is deeply grateful for Knight Yin Zhi's assistance." Ling Sha bowed slightly.

"Interstellar Peace Corporation coordination personnel and some transport ships are also in position; follow-up matters will still require the Knight Order to expend much effort coordinating."

She raised her eyes; her brown pupils were clear, her tone gentle yet meaningful:

"However, relocation work is complex and myriad, hearts are panicked. I only hope the Knight Order, while assisting, can guide a share more of purity and tranquility.....

Do not let certain overly utilitarian or pragmatic styles of the corporation taint those souls who have just escaped the shadow of Destruction and need pure hope to soothe them."

These words were tactful, but the meaning was clear: watch over the corporation's people, don't let them bring their copper stench and those messy contract clauses into this operation carried out in the name of salvation.

Yin Zhi immediately turned toward Ling Sha, returning an equally solemn salute.

"Please rest assured, Miss Ling Sha." Yin Zhi's tone was resolute, carrying a knight's pledge.

"The radiance of Pure Beauty shall naturally shelter every pure white soul seeking peace. Ugly scheming and turbid desires have no foothold before the Path of Salvation."

Receiving the guarantee, Ling Sha smiled and nodded, speaking no further.

Yin Zhi saluted Xuan Ge once more, then turned, striding with firm steps toward the ornately shaped "Rare Treasure" moored nearby.

Simultaneously, the ten-thousand-odd Shen Wu Army soldiers, long ready to depart, boarded the Fifth Army Large Transport Escort Ship amid a low, unified engine roar.

Two ships, one gorgeous and obsessive, one steady and stern.

One after another they slowly detached from the berths, adjusted course, stern thrusters suddenly spewing dazzling streams of light, accelerating toward the Sui Xing Dai, soon becoming two points of light in the star sea.

Xuan Ge remained standing at the berth's edge, watching until the streams of light vanished completely into the darkness of deep space, only then letting out a barely audible breath, turning around.

Then, he met Ling Sha's eyes — still wearing that perfect smile, yet making him inexplicably feel a chill at the back of his neck.

"Uh...." He subconsciously touched his nose, letting out a dry laugh.

"That.... Ling Sha, look, things have been pretty numerous lately, you've been pretty tired too.

How about.... I give you a few days off? I'll handle the General's Mansion matters myself, guarantee no slacking...."

"Hehe~"

Ling Sha laughed softly, shaking her head, that smile looking increasingly "kindly".

"The General jests. This Concubine serves as Chief Strategist; sharing your burdens is my duty — how could I slack off over a little fatigue?"

Her tone was gentle, but her words took a turn: "However, after this matter, this Concubine feels the General should seriously consider bringing in some professional talent for the Shen Wu Xian Zhou."

She stepped forward a few paces, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xuan Ge, gazing at the busy port, her voice lowered.

"The Heavenly Ship Office's shipping coordination, diplomatic etiquette, tariff calculations;

The Engineering Office's vessel maintenance, new technology research... ultimately require people truly proficient in these fields to take charge.

Though the General possesses heaven-given talent, you cannot personally handle everything, nor can you... always be dragging General Jing Yuan into staying up late, dealing with Shen Wu internal affairs that shouldn't concern him."

She recalled a few nights ago, late at night, happening to pass by the General's study and hearing Xuan Ge and Jing Yuan's projection arguing inside.

About shipping lane safety cost sharing, about resource allocation for immigrant resettlement points, about how to "borrow" a few master craftsmen from the Luo Fu Gong Zuo Si to help...

She felt a faint throbbing pain at her temples.

General Jing Yuan's helpless yet exasperated-and-amused expression could be heard even through the door.

Xuan Ge, hearing this, stroked his chin, revealing that habitual smile of his.

"Heh heh, talent... no rush, let me observe a bit more, scout a bit more."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly, as if already scanning the talent rosters of all major Xian Zhou in his mind.

"Must find someone pleasing to the eye, with genuine ability, and not too rigid."

Ling Sha nodded, saying no more.

She understood Xuan Ge, knew he wasn't truly unconcerned, just had exacting standards, and had indeed been observing in secret all along.

The Shen Wu Xian Zhou's framework was built by him single-handedly, its core the military; administration and professional technical aspects have always been somewhat "makeshift" and "borrowed".

He certainly wants to poach people, just hasn't seen a target yet that makes him feel "must poach" and "can poach".

The two stood a moment longer, then Xuan Ge personally escorted Ling Sha back to the Dan Ding Si.

Watching her enter that building permeated with a faint cool fragrance of medicinal herbs, he turned, ambling slowly back to the Shen Wei Jiang Jun Fu.

In the grand hall, that wide desk "greeted" him as always.

The stack of documents on it seemed taller than when he left this morning.

Xuan Ge walked behind the desk and sat, not rushing to work, first pouring himself a cup of tea long since gone cold, tilting his head back and downing a large mouthful, letting out a long breath.

Then, his gaze changed.

That trace of laziness, nonchalance, banter, retreated like the tide, leaving only a near-mechanical focus and efficiency.

He first swiftly scanned all documents, fingertips brushing past, stirring a faint breeze, sorting them into three piles: urgent, important, routine.

Handle urgent first. Mostly frontline military briefs, emergency supply allocation orders, sudden diplomatic notes.

His gaze like lightning, reading speed extreme, the jade seal in his hand representing Shen Wei General's authority rising and falling in flight, "Pa", "Pa", "Pa" light sounds echoing rhythmically in the empty grand hall.

Annotations often just a few words, yet hitting the crux.

Next, the important.

Development plans, personnel evaluations, quarterly summaries of each bureau. Speed slightly slower, still crisp, occasionally picking up brush to write slightly longer instructions, calligraphy sharp, force penetrating paper.

Finally, that largest pile of routine trivial matters.

Xuan Ge seemed to switch into another mode.

He picked one up, glanced, stamped, put down.

Picked another, glanced, stamped, put down.

Movements fluid as an automated assembly line.

【Logistics Bureau reports: General, today the canteen received Zhu Ming specialty Flame Pepper, add to menu per old custom?】

Pa! (Stamp) — Annotation: Add! More meat!

【Di Heng Si Civilian Sentiment Summary: Lao Chen, the manager of Warehouse No. 3 in the Port District, reported that his potted "Star Velvet Orchid" has not bloomed recently, causing him low spirits and affecting his work efficiency; he is applying for guidance from a flower expert.】

Pa! (Stamp) — Annotation: Approved. Send Dan Ding Si apprentices, conveniently check his pulse, see if it's internal heat.

【An anonymous letter from a Shen Wu soldier unwilling to reveal name: General, my online girlfriend of ten years says I reply too slow because always on patrol, wants to break up. What do I do? Waiting online, urgent!】

Xuan Ge's hand paused, brow raised, brush flying:

Pa! (Stamp) — Annotation: Strictly forbidden to use personal comms devices for idle chat during duty!

Next offense, punishment: sweep latrines.

As for the girl... really like her? Really like her then apply for leave, go see her.

If setback results, need psychological guidance can book Chief Strategist.

If she's unreasonable, need organization mediation... may consider dispatching your squad, in plain clothes, under guise of "civilian cultural exchange", to help you "ask about the situation".

(Note: Burn after reading, do not circulate.)

Just like that, one, another, and another.

From midday sun at its height, to shadows slanting west, stretching long, mottled light and shadow across the grand hall floor.

A pot of cold tea bottomed out.

The jade seal at hand seemed slightly warm.

"Hah—!"

When the last routine document was stamped, Xuan Ge finally leaned heavily back into the chair, stretching with utmost relaxation, even hearing his spine emit a faint "crack".

He raised a hand to rub his somewhat gritty eye corners, golden pupils rarely revealing a trace of pure, post-work fatigue and emptiness.

From early morning till now, he'd sat here. One pot tea, one seal, facing mountain-like official documents, stamping for a whole day.

Just as he pondered whether to first check the backyard koi, or the kitchen for leftover late-night snacks—

"Report—!"

A sharp, clear, clearly anxious shout tore through the tranquility that had just settled in the grand hall.

A Shen Wu soldier clad in black armor practically crashed through the palace doors and rushed in, his footsteps thudding heavily on the polished floor.

His face still bore the flush from intense exertion, his breathing ragged.

But the instant Xuan Ge's gaze swept over him, he immediately forced himself to a halt, dropped to one knee, saluted with clasped fists, his voice cracking with urgency:

"General! A Stellaron has been discovered on Sila Bake Planet! The Antimatter Legion vanguard has already deployed in low orbit there, and the Fifth Army's Second Flank Army has engaged them!"

The momentary weariness and relaxation on Xuan Ge's face vanished without a trace the instant the first word reached his ears.

He asked no superfluous questions, showed not the slightest hesitation or shock.

Almost simultaneously with the soldier's last word, he had already risen from his chair.

The motion was so swift it stirred a gust of wind, fluttering the top few documents on the desk.

His voice was calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet carried a pressure like a storm about to break:

"Pass the order: First Army, all personnel to Level One combat readiness, set sail immediately. Second Army, follow in sync, responsible for clearing the route and flank cover."

As he spoke, he was already striding with long, rapid steps toward the palace exterior.

His figure brushed past the kneeling soldier, the wind pressure from his passing pressing the man's clothes tight against his skin beneath his armor.

"Target: Sila Bake Planet."