Buzz buzz buzz.
The mosquito, the size of a fingernail, hummed inside the dark room, and as its size increased, so did its appetite.
It hadn't tasted blood in a long time; it was extremely thirsty.
Just as it finally found some Prey and was preparing to find an opportunity for a fatal strike to plunge its long stinger into the flesh and suck to its heart's content, it suddenly felt an icy chill. Its body was restrained by an invisible force, and even its agile wings felt heavy.
Danger!
Just as it was preparing to flee, a white light flashed, and it saw a half-severed body drifting down that looked somewhat familiar.
Oh, that was its own waist.
“I’ve gotten thinner again recently!”
This was the last thought in its mind before it lost consciousness.
The mosquito was split in two, and the Dog-leg Saber silently hovered in mid-air again, awaiting the arrival of the next Prey.
This was the Qi Control Technique that made Predators tremble in fear: using Qi to control a blade, killing from a distance.
After the Great Cataclysm, a large number of humans immigrated to the New Star, while more humans could only struggle to survive on the Wasteland.
Affected by nuclear Radiation, vegetation grew wildly, and all beasts became Mutant, growing powerful and aggressive. Even extremely weak creatures like praying mantises, cats, and mice became abnormally fierce.
To survive in such a world, one needed a strong body and formidable self-preservation abilities.
Thus, the Ancient Martial Arts techniques abandoned by humanity for a thousand years suddenly regained vigorous life. Tai Chi, Baguazhang, 《Five Animal Frolics《, and 《Eight Brocades《 all became national fitness programs, and some humans, through chance encounters, obtained more miraculous Cultivation Manuals.
It was rumored that humans on the New Star, in order to traverse the vast Star River and command various powerful weapons and equipment, were also practicing these Ancient Martial Arts techniques. Some had deep family traditions, some acquired them through heavy investment, and others dispatched various exploration teams to Blue Star to search for ancient tombs in pursuit of greater opportunities.
After all, Blue Star was the birthplace of Ancient Martial Arts. Although it was now dilapidated, countless immortal masters and powerful beings were buried beneath its coffins and thick soil.
Clearly, Phoenix was also one of the members exploring Blue Star for opportunities.
Thinking of Phoenix, Tang Fei couldn't help but exclaim again:
Her skin is so fair!
The Cultivation Method Tang Fei practiced was called the 《Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Technique《. This technique had nine levels; every time one level was broken through, the power of one Dragon and one Elephant would increase. Upon reaching the ninth level, the Divine Miracle of Nine Dragons Bathing the Head would appear, and the Cultivator would then be ranked among the transcendent, achieving eternal life.
Of course, Tang Fei suspected the Old Man was bragging.
After all, the Old Man gave him this Cultivation Method, and he hadn't even broken through the first level yet, let alone experienced the 'unreasonably brutal' Dragon Elephant Power the Old Man spoke of.
Tang Fei didn't sleep well tonight; he tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
He was thinking about sleeping. The Old Man said that the 'eating' he spoke of wasn't the eating he thought of, and the 'sleeping' he spoke of wasn't his usual sleeping.
It was all sleeping; how big a difference could there be?
There was an Old Fossil television set at home, but due to the electromagnetic storms, it hadn't received any signal for a long time. Having been idle for so long, its internal parts had rusted.
He did manage to find a few incomplete and worn-out magazines from under the Old Man's pillow, which smelled strongly of fish. The men and women in them were mostly unclothed, but this didn't quench his thirst or teach him much useful knowledge; instead, it made one want to drink more water.
“What kind of sleeping did the Old Man mean?”
“Did he sleep with someone?”
“I’ve known for ages that he was having an affair with Sister-in-law Cheng from the village head’s house. The way Sister-in-law Cheng looked at him was as if he were mixed with honey, yet the Old Man refused to admit it.”
“I must make the Old Man explain it clearly later.”
Tang Fei lay in the woods, manipulating the Dog-leg Saber that could slice wood like mud. Every downward cut was perfectly timed, cleanly removing excess wood or carving regular grooves into it.
Tang Fei carved the last piece of wood into a shape he was satisfied with and blew a breath onto it, blowing away the attached sawdust.
Then, he picked up the pile of oddly shaped wooden blocks between his legs and began assembling them. His movements were swift, requiring almost no thought; the exact position for every piece of wood was already deeply imprinted in his mind. Like the wind, like an illusion, flowing smoothly.
Soon, a small wooden bird appeared in his palm.
He twisted the winding key at the tail end of the bird’s rear, and the bird let out a 'creak, creak' sound.
When he felt the Time was right, he suddenly threw the bird towards the sky. Driven by inertia, it actually flapped its two wooden wings and flew up.
Pat pat!
One meter, two meters, three meters...
Climbing up Step by Step.
Just like a real bird.
Tang Fei Looked towards it with anticipation, clenching his fists, "Go, go!"
Suddenly, black smoke began to rise from the bird's rear, and flames quickly ignited. Then, the wooden bird turned into a firebird and plummeted vertically, smashing onto the ground with a 'bang' and shattering into pieces.
Tang Fei Gently sighed; it was the same as before.
He had performed several thousand 'test flights' to make this little bird fly. Unfortunately, every attempt ended in Failure.
“Of course, the progress is still obvious,” Tang Fei comforted himself internally.
In the beginning, the bird couldn't fly at all. As soon as he threw it, it fell vertically. The highest point it reached depended entirely on how much force Tang Fei could exert.
Then it was one meter, two meters, three meters, all the way up to flying over the Treetop of more than ten meters now.
“It should still be an issue with the wood’s supporting strength,” Tang Fei thought to himself. “The winding key is carved from wood. The higher it climbs, the more it needs a powerful Power Source, and the faster the winding key spins. When it spins too fiercely, it causes friction and catches fire.”
“If only the winding key could be made of steel. But if the winding key is steel, and the bird’s body is still wood... wouldn't that be like rubbing wood to make fire?”
“Unless the entire bird’s body is steel.”
Suddenly, the Old Man’s sharp-mouthed face flashed in his mind:
“If wood can’t even fly out, you still dream of making one out of steel?”
Annoying fellow!
“Brother!” Little Fatty’s voice came over.
Tang Fei turned around and saw Little Fatty walking over with a pale-faced Phoenix.
Phoenix looked at him strangely, as if she had discovered a new continent.
She probably didn't expect that besides her beautiful appearance, she was also multi-talented?
Mechanic, I hear that’s a very sought-after profession on the New Star.
Becoming an excellent Mechanic means you won't worry about sleeping...
Huh? Why am I thinking about sleeping again?
Damn Old Man!
Tang Fei stared at Phoenix vigilantly, wondering if this woman was plotting something against him.
I’m still young...
She wishes!
Tang Fei Looked towards Phoenix and asked, “Why are you out? Are you feeling better?”
“Much better. After taking your medicine and drinking a bowl of meat broth, I felt much more comfortable getting up today. The scars on my body have also started to heal,” Phoenix said in explanation.
Although being dropped into this unfamiliar and desolate place filled her with Despair, this young man’s concern stirred a warm current in her heart.
It was a strange feeling. In the past, when she was constantly surrounded by solicitous attention, she only offered polite thanks, and sometimes even felt annoyed.
Indeed, what a person lacks, they crave.
On the Ruins, even a tiny bit of care was a great comfort to her.
“Mhm, don't rush it. The wound will itch a bit as it heals. You must not scratch it with your hands; that’s a normal reaction after applying the sap of the Snake Skin Tree.”
“In a few days, scabs will form on the surface of the wound, and when those scabs naturally fall off, your skin will return to its previous state, without any trace of the injury, perhaps even fairer and softer than before.”
“That miraculous?” Phoenix exclaimed.
On the New Star, using the latest skincare products or medical aesthetic equipment could also remove scars and marks, ensuring wounds left no trace.
But here, on the Ruins, Tang Fei simply chewed up a few leaves and stuck them on the wound, and it achieved the same effect.
Indeed, after the Great Cataclysm, the Ruins were full of treasures, they just needed to be dug out diligently.
“Of course,” Tang Fei nodded. “When we get back, check again to see if there are any spots that haven't healed. If not fully healed, I’ll chew up some more Snake Skin Tree sap to apply. A few more applications and it will be fine.”
Phoenix nodded and said, “It’s fine, I know my body; I’m just still a bit Weak.”
“Mhm. It’s good that you’re fine,” Tang Fei said with a smile.
The better Phoenix’s body recovered, the sooner she could return to the New Star, and the shorter the Time until he received his reward supplies.
He had already imagined the Scene of him driving a Flying Car and hunting with a Pulse Gun. He would be the most dazzling Monster Hunter on this planet.
Phoenix Looked towards Tang Fei and Said aloud, “I want to go see where I crashed.”
“You mean you want to see your Escape Pod, right?”
“Yes,” Phoenix nodded and said, “If the Communication Device inside still works, I can contact my family directly and have them bring the gratitude supplies for you when they come to pick me up. That way, you’d be more at ease, wouldn’t you?”
“Look at you, what is there to be at ease or not at ease about? From the first moment I saw you, I felt you were a woman worthy of trust.”
Tang Fei said casually, “But contacting your family is good too. I also hope you can reunite with your family soon. After all, this is not a place where a woman like you should stay.”
Phoenix smiled and asked, “What kind of place should a woman like me stay in?”
“You should stay on the New Star, in a place that shines brightly,” Tang Fei said.
Phoenix gave Tang Fei a meaningful look and said, “A boy like you might be very popular with the noble young ladies on the New Star.”
“Really?” Tang Fei asked, overjoyed, “What do they like about me?”
“...”
Phoenix looked at Tang Fei’s unwashed face and matted long hair for a long Time, thinking she must be crazy to say something so nonsensical.
“Kindness,” Phoenix said, seeing Tang Fei still staring at her with bright eyes and an expectant look, so she had to force herself to answer, “And courage.”
“And good looks,” Tang Fei added. “It’s just that I don’t have water to wash my face. If I washed my face, even I would think I look incredibly handsome.”
“...”
Led by Tang Fei, the three of them found the spot where Phoenix had crashed the day before.
Phoenix rushed to the Escape Pod, climbed inside, and immediately tried to start the main system.
“System damaged, unable to start!”
She tried again, and the AI’s mechanical prompt sounded once more:
“System damaged, unable to start!”
“System damaged.” Phoenix looked regretful. Although she had been mentally prepared for the worst, and this result was within her predictions, she still couldn't suppress her sadness when the reality was right in front of her.
She tried again to find the Communication Device inside the Escape Pod, attempting to contact the New Star, but the result was equally disappointing: the Communication Device was severely damaged and unable to locate.
Unable to locate her position, and unable to locate the New Star’s position. How could she make contact?
“Can’t make contact?” Tang Fei moved closer and asked aloud.
Phoenix was sad, and he was sad too.
If Phoenix couldn't go back, he wouldn't get his deserved 'Gratitude Gift Package.' What was he to do?
The thought of the Pulse Gun, Flying Car, and one ton of supplies moving away from him made him feel even sadder than Phoenix.
The joys and sorrows of humanity are indeed shared.
“You see,” Phoenix could sense his eagerness to ‘send her away,’ and she pointed to the Escape Pod control panel to explain, “Falling from high altitude caused severe damage... the system won't start, and the Communication Device can't locate.”
“Is there any other way to contact them?” Tang Fei asked.
Phoenix raised her arm to show her holographic smart communication wristwatch and said, “There’s this...”
“Then why... is this also broken?”
Phoenix nodded.
Silence.
A deathly silence.
After a long Time, Tang Fei asked, “What are your plans now?”
“I plan to go back with you,” Phoenix said.
This was the only option, and the best option at the moment.
After all, this man was her Savior; he could save her once, and he could save her a second time.
If she left here, who knew what villains or monsters she might encounter?
“What?” Tang Fei was shocked.
In his and the Old Man’s plan, once this woman woke up, they would immediately send her back to the New Star.
This way, they wouldn't have to bear any responsibility, they would save food, and they might even receive a large reward for their kindness...
She actually wanted to go back with him?
First, if she returned, the household would have one more person to feed, and he would have to hunt more game.
Second, her identity was unknown, and she crashed here after being attacked. What if her enemies pursued her? They certainly didn't share a bond of sharing fortune and hardship.
Third, if she didn't go back, when would he receive his reward? If she never went back and stayed by his side forever, it would affect his hunting efficiency...
“Name your conditions,” Phoenix said, looking completely calm.
She had basically mastered the communication skills with this guy; for him, problems that could be solved with money were not problems at all.
Coincidentally, she was not short of money.