Disposing of a few crazed men was as straightforward as blowing off dust for Feng Yi, and he signaled the others to hurry up. A moment later, he let out a sigh, as the group's walking speed was painfully slow. Ultimately, Feng Yi took over carrying the heavy items, shouldering the grueling work himself.
"Sir Feng, we can't possibly let you do this."
"No time for formalities, we need to be on our way."
Hearing this, the man fell silent. Feng Yi's honesty made him feel somewhat pretentious.
Since setting off in the morning, they had crossed numerous gullies and streams, mostly relying on Feng Yi's help. They reached their destination just before sunset. Soon after, an enormous object began to appear in their sight from the other side of the horizon...
An old civilian spacecraft took shape before their eyes, now as large as a football field. It was a discarded product of the Federation, which had come into the hands of a trader after many transactions. On the ship, you could still vaguely make out the Federation's insignia.
A few armed mercenaries were patrolling one side of the wing while a Guardian-type mecha loomed in the center. Seeing the towering mechanical suit stirred an excitement in Feng Yi that even his calm demeanor could not suppress. Indeed, his cool personality didn't lack aspiration, and becoming a mech pilot was one of the things he had dreamed of since childhood.
This ship was the last flight of the day. Unlike regular flights, which required identification and had many stipulations, this "black ship" only required payment for a boarding pass. After finishing the simple procedures and paying the required amount, they were guided into the lower-class cabin.
The conditions in the lower-class cabin could only be described as appalling, and the basic sanitation facilities were barely tolerable. Yet, the people gathered here represented all walks of life. Even so, they all seemed quite satisfied at this moment. If one has never been to the 103rd Colonial Planet, they couldn't possibly imagine just how harsh the living conditions there were.
The ship was divided into three levels. Thus, they found their way to the rest area by examining their magnetic cards and matching them to their seats.
At this point, the two young girls were overcome with emotion and tears welled up in their eyes. Having spent years on the 103rd Colonial Planet, they had almost forgotten what life was like for Federation citizens. Living in a nightmare, they were constantly terrified and worried about their future. If it were not for their peculiar neighbor, Feng Yi, the two girls would have likely been taken away long ago.
Once they were finally settled, the couple again expressed their gratitude to Feng Yi with a series of nods and bows.
Feng Yi signaled them to stop, it was but a matter of fulfilling a promise to a friend. Expressing gratitude verbally had no tangible effect; it was better to dispense with it altogether.
The primary concern now was the note left by an old man. The message asked Feng Yi to find a place called the Ancient Martial Arts Dojo in the Alpha region. Upon arrival, someone there would arrange everything for him.
Although the old man was unreliable, he was quite serious about this matter. Departing from the 103rd Colonial Planet to reach the Alpha region would involve a journey through several public star systems. A rough estimate put the travel time at a month. During this period, Feng Yi also had to worry about the issue of money. The last thing he wanted was to die of hunger before reaching the destination, a fate as tragic as a premature death.
The 103rd Colonial Planet, a land-like planet that did not hold any fond memories for anyone. Staying there would only lead to a slow decline. Staring out at the dark night, the only emotion left in his heart was a touch of melancholy.
"Dear passengers, the flight to Dragon Gate Space Station will depart in ten minutes. Please prepare for takeoff. I repeat..." A female voice echoed over the loudspeaker.
Feng Yi turned his head and searched...there were no seatbelts. This treatment accurately reflected the kind of life experienced in the lower-class cabin and it suited Feng Yi just fine.
As the seats began to vibrate slightly with the passing time, the spacecraft got higher and higher above the horizon. The refugee camp illuminated by specks of lights was mirrored in Feng Yi's eyes before disappearing into the darkness. Once the ship left the atmosphere, the splendid sight of the galaxy gradually came into view, a sight that was truly mesmerizing.
Looking out at the universe through the 360-degree panoramic star observatory, the spectacular Sky Eagle Nebula burst exuberantly with color. This was Feng Yi's first close encounter with the universe in his conscious memory. Nothing could possibly be more captivating than the spectacle before him. In comparison, any images from educational videos paled pathetically as they couldn't compete with such visual impact.
Bored, Feng Yi tried to grasp a sliver of emotion. The Pillar of Creation seemed within reach but was in fact far beyond his grasp, and left nothing more than a fleeting imprint on his mind. He made a silent vow that, one day, he would travel the universe in a mechanical suit. Unfortunately, it seemed such technology didn't exist yet.
The engine of this old civilian spacecraft was designed with anti-proton fusion propulsion, combining antimatter with plasma in a bidirectional thruster, also known as an inertially confined fusion propulsion system triggered by antimatter, continuously accelerating into plasma. It could reach a maximum speed of 0.3 times the speed of light, with a 12-fold acceleration buffer, 8 times gravity offset, and it took only two days to reach peak acceleration.
In the beginning, Feng Yi was utterly fascinated by the beautiful galaxy. However, the vast expanse of space can provoke an immunity to its visual appeal over time. The fleeting appearance and sudden disappearance of meteorites, like so many points of light, were impossible to catch with the human eye. He stared at the starry sky for a long time until he unwittingly dozed off, only to be roused by hunger pangs.
The monotonous and boring journey seemed to stretch on indefinitely, and the ship continued to shuttle swiftly. Feng Yi lost all interest in observing the myriad of twinkling stars and instead got up to get a cheap space meal. His ruggedly handsome demeanor belied an extraordinary physical strength—his food intake needs couldn't be compared with those of ordinary people.
Indeed, having honed his body through combat since childhood, he had developed an incredible strength. For survival's sake, Feng Yi was capable of lying in wait for several days in extreme heat or cold without food or water, biding his time for a decisive strike against his enemy. He was a hunter, a seasoned warrior. His movements were swift as lightning, yet he carried himself with the tranquility of a maiden. Of course, Feng Yi could also eat the equivalent of several people's meals in one sitting.
In environments where survival was a challenge, the ability to resist high gravity was but basic survival instinct. Since childhood, he had lived on the edge, constantly dealing with countless thugs and villains, and leading a life where every day could be his last; a precarious existence akin to licking blood off a knife's edge.
Thanks to long-term gravity training, Feng Yi's combat reflexes and neurological memory were extremely sharp, and his robust physique could almost catch bullets with bare hands, not to mention shattering steel bars in close combat. This was Feng Yi, a man who, while appearing uneventful, was greatly feared by the bigshots of the frontier colonies.
At this moment, Feng Yi was contemplating his journey while acutely aware of the quiet conversation behind him. A glance revealed several pairs of eyes focused on him. Everyone, indeed, had their own way of life. Feng Yi wasn't sure if his money would be enough for his own needs. Who could tell? He might have to starve for several days. Thus, he paid them no mind and continued eating his dinner in silence.