At Cloud Mountain Interstellar Military Academy's starship dock, the *Storm* glided smoothly into Dock 3. Feng Mo, sitting in the captain's chair, sighed deeply. The fallout from the starship duel was far from over.
He knew Jiang Wei wouldn't let this defeat slide, and their rivalry would likely escalate into more confrontations, both overt and covert. Jiang Wei's father might even get personally involved. Still, Feng Mo welcomed the challenge. Strength was honed through hardship.
Thankfully, the *Storm* had sustained no damage during the duel. After a quick energy recharge, it was ready for action again without needing any repairs. He dismissed the crew, giving them time to rest and enjoy some free time, before descending alone from the ship.
At the dock, Wang Chongsheng stood at the front of a crowd, looking exasperated as he conversed with a tall girl with twin ponytails. When he saw Feng Mo, his expression brightened, and he hurried over, grinning from ear to ear.
"That was incredible, brother! You put that arrogant Jiang Wei in his place! He needed that!" Wang Chongsheng cheered, embracing Feng Mo.
Feng Mo gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. Together, they glanced at the *Peregrine*, now docked at Bay 4, where a towing ship had just parked it. Zhang, the vice-captain, was helping Jiang Wei disembark.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury. Jiang Wei's face flushed red with rage as he saw Feng Mo and Wang Chongsheng laughing together. Shoving Zhang's supportive hand away, he stormed over to Feng Mo.
"Feng Mo! Are you brave enough to fight me again?" Jiang Wei challenged, his voice shaking with anger.
Feng Mo knew there was no avoiding this conflict. He turned to face Jiang Wei with a smirk. "How do you want to do this?"
Jiang Wei clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking with tension. "Right here, right now! Both of us are Level 1 Gene Warriors, and there are plenty of teachers and students to witness. Let's settle this with our fists!"
Feng Mo gently nudged Wang Chongsheng aside and crossed his arms. "Jiang Wei, I've always believed in not starting trouble unless provoked. You've been a thorn in my side for too long, constantly picking fights. Fine. Let's end this today."
Jiang Wei sneered and took a step closer. "You think an orphaned, low-born wretch like you deserves to end anything with me?"
*Slap!*
Feng Mo delivered a powerful slap across Jiang Wei's face, sending him reeling. His head snapped to the side from the force.
"Such a filthy mouth," Feng Mo said coldly. "Does your family know you talk like this? If they won't discipline you, I'll do it in your father's place."
"Discipline me in my father's place?" Jiang Wei spat, his face contorted with humiliation. The pain was secondary; the shame was what cut deepest. Yet he managed to keep a shred of self-control. Feng Mo's speed and strength in that slap told Jiang Wei everything he needed to know: Feng Mo was already at the peak of a Level 1 Gene Warrior.
"I'll kill you!" Jiang Wei roared, pretending to be consumed by rage. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, silver electromagnetic pulse gun, aiming it directly at Feng Mo.
The sudden appearance of the weapon sent adrenaline coursing through Feng Mo's veins. His earlier confidence was gone, replaced with raw panic as his body tensed.
*Danger!*
Everything happened in an instant. Feng Mo saw Jiang Wei's twisted grin and heard Wang Chongsheng's alarmed shout. But before the gun could fire, a black blur moved in front of Feng Mo, absorbing the crimson pulse blast.
The shadow flickered, and in the next moment, the electromagnetic gun shattered into pieces, falling uselessly to the ground.
*Pant, pant, pant…*
Feng Mo caught his breath, his heart pounding as he took in the figure before him: a combat exosuit, an exoskeleton armor designed for Gene Warriors. Made from the same materials used to build starships, the armor incorporated memory metal that could self-repair when damaged.
These armors were expensive and not widely available, with no public market access. They were reserved for those with significant connections or wealth.
Feng Mo's gaze shifted to Jiang Wei, who stood frozen in disbelief. This was a harsh lesson: Jiang Wei had shown Feng Mo what true ruthlessness meant. Without parental guidance since the age of eight, Feng Mo had never fully understood the brutal world of nobility and power. Now, he was beginning to learn.
Jiang Wei was quickly subdued, forced face-down on the ground by two academy enforcers. Wang Chongsheng rushed to Feng Mo's side, whispering urgently, "Are you okay, Mo? That bastard dared to pull a gun on academy grounds! His father's going to have to pay big time to get him out of this one. Think carefully about what you want as compensation."
Feng Mo nodded. As Wang Chongsheng said, Jiang Wei would likely escape serious punishment, but only after his powerful father paid a hefty price. It was unrealistic to think he could completely ruin Jiang Wei. Better to use the situation to his advantage.
The academy director, who had been wearing the exosuit, dismissed the crowd with a wave of his hand and turned to Feng Mo. "Cadet Feng Mo, this incident is a serious breach of academy regulations. We will investigate thoroughly and get back to you within three days. In the meantime, please return to your dormitory and wait."
Feng Mo nodded, his back soaked with sweat from the close encounter with death. He needed to change clothes and discuss the starship blueprint deal with Wang Chongsheng.
---
Back at Dorm 369
After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Feng Mo sat in his living room, sipping hot tea to calm his nerves. He looked at Wang Chongsheng, who was lounging nearby. "So, any news on the business deal we discussed?"
"Relax," Wang Chongsheng replied with a grin. "My aunt wanted to meet you on the StarNet, but when I showed her the duel video and told her you designed and built that ship yourself, she insisted on meeting you in person. She's on Cloud Mountain Star right now and should be here soon. Seriously, man, you've been hiding these skills from me for too long! How are you going to make it up to me?"
Feng Mo laughed. "Don't worry, I owe you one. Here's my promise: when you're ready to form your own fleet, I'll personally design your flagship. Sound good?"
Wang Chongsheng clapped Feng Mo on the shoulder, practically bouncing with excitement. "That's more than good! I'm aiming to set up my fleet in three years, so get ready to draw up plans for a T4-class battleship!"
He knew Feng Mo's abilities were growing rapidly, and three years was plenty of time for his friend to reach new heights. Wang Chongsheng felt grateful to have such a capable and loyal friend.
"Beep beep!"
The sound of a notification on his smart terminal made Wang Chongsheng jump. "That must be my aunt. I'll go get her. Wait here!" He shot Feng Mo a grin before hurrying out the door.