028. Long Time No See, Have You Traveled to Space? (Part 3)
"Mr. Li Aozi! You're truly amazing, not only as a hero who defeated the Abyss Humanitarian Anti-Humanity Organization, but also as an international warrior who helped liberate the Gulanth people, and the greatest adventurer of this century!"
Barnum was utterly convinced.
Was this the suspect with a 20 million derby bounty? What a joke, Li Aozi will always be my big brother!
With 1.8 billion derbies, you could set up a colony and become its governor, a hereditary one at that. As an ordinary person, he couldn't even fathom spending that amount of money in a lifetime—not just him, but probably not even an entire family.
If Li Aozi were interested in entering real estate and finance—my goodness, with a strategic precious metal like Niobium Alloy, he could directly become a financial magnate of the Frost-Plated Republic!
However, Li Aozi's next move nearly made Barnum's heart leap out of his chest.
Clang!
Tossing aside the shovel, Li Aozi drew his sword. The [Soul-Engraved Swordmaster • Wargod] activated, and with a swift, clean stroke, the sharp blade slid into the coffin's seam. With a light slice, the gravity-enhanced blade effortlessly cut a neat fissure, yet the high temperature generated by the kinetic energy didn't spark any flames. The exceptional physical properties of the Niobium Alloy, with its memory-like qualities, prevented fragmentation, smoothly restoring its shape. Li Aozi exerted force and flipped the coffin lid made of Niobium Alloy.
"Be gentle!" Barnum clutched his chest, his eyes red with anguish, and said with resentment, "This stuff is insanely expensive—just one corner you cut is worth my month's salary!"
"The alloy itself isn't important; this stuff is everywhere in the universe."
Li Aozi didn't care much about the alloy; he was truly concerned about the person inside the coffin.
After uncovering the outer coffin, the technological devices inside made even him pause. Before him was a perfectly self-sustaining cryogenic life support system, with various devices generating electricity based on air pressure, temperature, soil pH, and other conditions, keeping the freezer running. The sophisticated equipment was so advanced that if shown to Du Zexin, it would drop his jaw in amazement.
This was the industrial pinnacle of the old era, one of the brightest achievements of that golden age, where people, driven by pure beliefs and noble ideals, heroically sacrificed themselves for the progress of their time.
The era that created it may be forgotten, but that doesn't diminish the importance of what's inside—it's a gift from the pioneers to the future.
Or rather, a bride prepared by the idealists of the past for future generations.
Li Aozi turned the combination lock; he was very familiar with how to operate such old-era equipment. The Yami Liyoko text on it was basic knowledge for players. After a series of activations, a holographic screen popped up in front of him, and a synthesized female voice spoke:
[(Yami Liyoko language) Please enter the contract password.]
Li Aozi nodded and replied fluently in Yami Liyoko language:
"The Yellow Cuckoo brings the letter; I've come for the wedding."
[(Yami Liyoko language) Correct answer, congratulations on your wedding.]
Barnum couldn't help but ask, "How do you know this language? And you're so fluent… Are you from the old era?"
"Basic courses." Li Aozi didn't elaborate. The device in front of him had already started operating, releasing gas as the internal pressure gradually normalized, and the frozen individual began to revive.
Li Aozi and Barnum stepped back two paces as the coffin's mechanical system engaged, lifting the internal cryo-chamber upright.
Hiss—
The secondary pressure release completed, the heavy alloy lock disengaged, and the door slowly opened. A lively, bright female voice sounded:
"(Yami Liyoko language) Long time no see, comrades, have you reached the moon?"
In the next moment, a vibrant young woman stepped onto the grass. Her flaxen hair was meticulously braided and draped over her back. She wore a black, era-appropriate uniform with silver buttons shaped like scales. The silver epaulettes on her shoulders seemed to signify her identity: an Inquisitor from the old era.
Her beauty was undoubtedly at the level of a true beauty—high-bridged nose, delicate features, and charming eyebrows. Even though her figure was tightly wrapped in the uniform, it was clear she had an outstanding physique. But compared to the passion, kindness, and confidence radiating from her golden eyes, which were so different from contemporary people—her beauty was insignificant.
Even an iceberg would melt before her. Her smile evoked a word that no longer existed on the Azure Star: spring.
What stood out the most, however, was her skin tone.
Today's Azure Star people, with their mixed blood from external earthlings, had somewhat pale skin. Even with long-term exposure to artificial sunlight, their complexion wasn't particularly attractive. However, this Inquisitor from 500 years ago had a full, healthy body with skin as radiant as milk, subtly indicating that people of today and those of the old era had become different species.
Her gaze fell on Li Aozi, and she immediately walked up to him, saluting:
"Alexia Emanuel Justein, [Inquisitor] of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of the Yami Liyoko Federation, reporting to the Yellow Cuckoo contract holder."
Then she smiled slightly, extended the back of her hand, and looked into Li Aozi's eyes with her golden ones:
"Nice to meet you, dear. Please accept me as the bride prepared by the Yami Liyoko Federation General Affairs Bureau for the people of the future."
She blinked and couldn't hide the excitement and fondness on her face upon seeing Li Aozi's handsome appearance. Unlike women of today, she didn't bother to conceal her thoughts and emotions, immediately taking Li Aozi's hand and asking in Yami Liyoko language:
"Please tell me your name, my groom comrade. I've slept too long, and there are many things I want to ask you—Has the three-body problem been solved? Oh, what am I saying, that problem should be unsolvable, so surely the death penalty has been abolished by now, right?
"Are people living on the moon now? The sky is so white, I can't see any clouds, but the sunlight seems a bit weak—not the best weather.
"Ah, you must have eradicated poverty and racial discrimination by now, right? I must quickly report to the current Yami Liyoko Federation Supreme Council, and once I get my new ID, I want to visit the International Space Station."
Faced with her expectant gaze, the battle-hardened Li Aozi didn't know what to say.
He gently patted her shoulder, opened his mouth, organized his thoughts, and said:
"My name is Li Aozi, Miss Alexia."
"Li Aozi—your name is interesting, dear."
He hesitated for a moment before saying heavily:
"I'm sorry, but the Yami Liyoko Federation was destroyed 570 years ago. The red-black clouds of Calamity now cover the Earth. We've lost the sun and can no longer leave our home planet. The world has returned to a frozen age where everyone fights for themselves. War and hunger not only exist but continue to plague countless people."
The smile on Alexia's face gradually froze, and the light in her golden eyes seemed to vanish as she looked at Li Aozi in disbelief.
'Please tell me this is a joke, right?'
Her lips trembled, as if she were saying that. Her pupils darted and wavered, and she couldn't help but retract her hand, pressing it to her heart. After a moment of intense emotion, she calmed down and looked at him seriously.
Li Aozi pursed his lips and finally decided to shatter her illusion:
"I'm sorry, we failed."
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Although some readers say, "Why hasn't the planet exploded yet?" "It's boring that the planet hasn't exploded," "The protagonist is too much of a saint, just a pure simp."
But I think the buried past of the Azure Star easily reminds one of an era that existed and was forgotten.
Gulanth is just a small country, a side quest, with nothing newsworthy and nothing much to write about. So after much thought, I decided to quickly wrap up the storyline here and guide everyone to the truly interesting parts of Star Abyss.
When it comes to the unknown, humans are always filled with fear and curiosity—this desire is etched into our very bones.
Every time we look up at the starry sky, apart from feeling the vast ancient desolation, it also makes one wonder if human existence has any meaning at all. Even if we strive to live, it might be just living; the universe won't recognize or change because of our existence.
But even so, I still believe that going into space is the most romantic and coolest thing humans can do. This universe is vast, perhaps vast enough to contain everything, or perhaps we can find the ultimate answers to life within it.
When a dream is both cool and romantic, reason and knowledge become the bridge that helps people cross from reality to dream. The pursuit of romance is always rational, but the goal is always emotional.
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A big thank you to [Brennan] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to me.