Volume Six: Theft Is Robbery - Chapter Eight: The Floating Cloud Fairyland (Part Two)

The Great Elder of the Demon Valley continued, "Our Valley Master says they are willing to grant you thirty percent of the future proceeds from the Forgotten Star."

The Great Elder of the Qingyan Pavilion immediately chimed in, "The Qingyan Pavilion has no objections either." As for the Tyrant Dragon Peak, that went without saying.

Hearing this, Kuang Chi was moved. In truth, neither Kuang Chi nor Jing’er had been without such thoughts. Their original plan was to relocate the majority of the population from the Forgotten Star and then jointly develop the planet. Once the large families of the nine underground cities, along with the other three major factions like the Tyrant Dragon Peak, had moved out, the Forgotten Star would be theirs to rule.

Kuang Chi looked toward Jing’er. Judging by her expression and that of the nine underground city lords nearby, it was clear they were discussing the same issue.

After a moment of thought, Kuang Chi spoke: "If that is the case, I have no objections, though I am not yet sure how the specific distribution of future profits on the Forgotten Star should be handled."

The elders of the other two factions looked toward the Great Elder of the Tyrant Dragon Peak. The latter then replied, "According to our recent discussions, if you and Lady Jing’er agree, the proceeds from the Forgotten Star will be divided as follows: you shall receive thirty percent, Lady Jing’er twenty percent, our three factions will collectively receive twenty percent, and the remaining thirty percent will be left for the nine cities to allocate among themselves."

Kuang Chi frowned. Receiving thirty percent for himself alone seemed a bit excessive; he did not believe in free lunches. He cast a questioning look at the three Great Elders before him.

Although the Great Elder of the Qingyan Pavilion was a woman, she was undoubtedly the most astute of the three. Understanding Kuang Chi’s hesitation, she immediately added, "Our Pavilion Master and the Demon Valley Master both believe that only you, Young Master, can ensure that our future interests on the Forgotten Star remain protected from external forces. That is why..." She trailed off, but the implication was clear: the Demon Valley and Qingyan Pavilion wanted Kuang Chi to act as their shield against future disasters.

This was, in fact, the reality. Without sufficient strength, those two transport ships would inevitably attract the attention of powerful families and sects the moment they left the Abandoned Star Region. The hull plating alone was enough to drive many to madness, to say nothing of the powerful propulsion system. The first ones to come knocking might very well be the Demon Sect and the Sword Sect.

As Kuang Chi pondered the gains and losses, Jing’er walked up to him. After glancing at the three Great Elders, she turned to Kuang Chi and asked, "Fatty, what do you think?"

After the two whispered to each other for a while, Kuang Chi turned to the three Great Elders, the nine city lords, and the heads of the major families nearby and said, "If that is the case, Lady Jing’er and I agree."

Before the others could express their joy, Jing’er coldly added, "However, there is one condition: all goods transported off the Forgotten Star must be approved by me and Young Master Kuang. There are certain things I do not wish to see fall into the hands of those who may become our enemies."

The Great Elder of the Qingyan Pavilion nodded quickly. "That goes without saying. Your enemies are our enemies, and the enemies of the Forgotten Star. Please, Lady Jing’er, clarify exactly what can be transported, and we shall begin making preparations immediately."

Three days later, all affairs regarding the Forgotten Star were settled. On the tenth day, the Ghost Pirate Ship squeezed out from the asteroid belt near the wormhole once more.

Three months later, at the speed of the Ghost Pirate Ship, they were less than three days' travel from the Piaofeng Star.

The ship slowly sailed into the shadow of a planet. As they approached the true heart of the Piaofeng Empire, Kuang Chi and Jing’er, not wanting to reveal the ship's presence, chose to be as cautious as possible.

Once the ship finally came to a halt in the shadows, Kuang Chi stood up from the command chair and walked over to Jing’er, who was sitting nearby. "What should we do now? This place doesn't seem very safe. If a patrol ship appears at close range, we will be easily discovered. If we are truly found out, it will be a major problem. Even the Ghost Pirate Ship would likely struggle to escape from here."

Jing’er smiled sweetly at him. "Fatty, thank you for bringing me back."

Though Kuang Chi enjoyed hearing this, it now made his heart go cold. He hurriedly replied, "Let's save the thanks for later. I don't want to be hunted down by your Piaofeng Empire's fleet. Tell me, what should we do? The Ghost Pirate Ship is not a true ghost. There are too many administrative planets in this area; it’s too easy to be spotted."

Jing’er shot him a look of annoyance. "What are you afraid of? If discovered, can't you just run? With this ship's speed, what are you worried about? And if it comes to the point where you truly can't escape, aren't I here?"

Kuang Chi grunted. "You mean you want the whole universe to know that Princess Jing’er was brought back by a bunch of pirates? Don't forget, we are pirates now."

Jing’er rolled her eyes, chuckling. "Give it a rest. I haven't seen you rob a single stone yet. 'Space pirates'—have you gone mad? You used to call me the crazy one; I don't think I am, but you certainly look like one now."

Without waiting for his response, she added with a smile, "I’ve already made arrangements. Nearby, there is a garden planet belonging exclusively to our royal family. My sister and I have a small island there, which happens to have a dock once used for royal ceremonial ships. Once my sister confirms the route, we will head there."

Not long after, under Jing’er's command, the ship navigated the star region like a thief, slipping through the patrol routes of the local guards to reach a deep green planet. Only a ship like the Ghost Pirate Ship, which didn't fear electronic detection, could have made it in. The space defense in this area was formidable; they nearly collided with patrol fleets several times. Fortunately, it seemed there was an inside contact, as the patrol fleets would inexplicably turn back whenever they grew close.

When the ship finally landed on the island, it was deep in the night. Kuang Chi could not see the surroundings, nor was he in the mood to look. Exhausted, he did not disembark when Jing’er ran out cheering. He simply had Ah San send a team of over a dozen experts to act as her guard.

After they left, Kuang Chi shook his head, wondering if he was losing his mind—this was Jing’er’s home, yet he was still worried.

He went to the bathhouse; playing the thief had been exhausting. Most of the crew were illiterate natives from the Forgotten Star, along with a few pirates who had crashed there decades ago. Kuang Chi and Jing’er didn't fully trust the pirates, and while the men from the Tyrant Dragon Peak were great at killing and arson, they were clueless when it came to commanding a warship. In the end, Kuang Chi and Jing’er had to take turns commanding the ship.

Jing’er, however, frequently used being a woman as an excuse to slack off. Kuang Chi had no choice but to spend his time either cultivating to recover his energy or sitting on the bridge commanding the ship.

He didn't know how much time had passed when he felt someone patting his head. This caused Kuang Chi, who had been in deep meditation, to wake up instantly, berating himself for his carelessness in letting his guard down.

This was hardly his fault, however. There were nearly nine hundred people on the ship, all of them experts. Ah San and the other captains had arranged for at least ten Tyrant Dragon Peak disciples to stand guard outside the bathhouse, as they still didn't trust the two hundred people sent by the Qingyan Pavilion and the Demon Valley.

Kuang Chi opened his eyes and saw Jing’er crouching beside him, looking at him with a strange expression. Kuang Chi complained, "Jing’er, what are you doing? You could have caused me to suffer a cultivation deviation."

She chuckled at his words, leaving Kuang Chi utterly confused. "Jing’er, what’s wrong with you? Are you sick? Have you lost your mind?"

She glared at him. "You’re the one who’s sick."

Hearing her voice, Kuang Chi realized something was off. Her voice was different from before. The previous Jing’er had a much softer, more delicate tone, but this one, while equally pleasant, had a sense of strength to it.

Just then, the door opened, and another Jing’er—looking exactly like the one before him—walked in with a blushing face.

Kuang Chi looked from one to the other, then let out a startled cry, as if he had seen a ghost.

Externally, he could not tell them apart, but his intuition clearly told him the one who had entered last was the real Jing’er. Having been transformed by the horn of a cosmic monster, her constitution was identical to his own, and with careful attention, he could sense the subtle difference.

He suddenly remembered Jing’er mentioning a twin sister. Although she never spoke of her, Kuang Chi had overheard conversations between Duke Yero and Jing’er confirming they were twins.

Kuang Chi turned to the blushing girl who had just entered. "Jing’er, is this your sister?"

He thought for a moment, then turned to her sister and called out, "Sister."

He meant no harm; calling her "Miss" or "Lady" felt too distant given his relationship with Jing’er. Calling her "Sister" seemed the most natural choice.

To his surprise, the two princesses both turned bright red. Jing’er’s sister blushed and scolded him with a shy smile, "Who is your sister? Am I that old?"

Kuang Chi was left speechless. He couldn't very well call her "little sister," could he? Women were truly strange.

Jing’er finally moved to Kuang Chi’s side, standing next to her sister. She giggled, "This is my sister, Princess Jing’er of our Piaofeng Empire. You can call her Jing’er from now on."

Kuang Chi sighed inwardly. One princess named Jing’er, the other named Jing’er—the names lacked imagination. Though he didn't realize his own name was hardly conventional.

Kuang Chi gave an awkward smile. He couldn't bring himself to be so familiar just yet.

Jing’er’s sister, clearly not wanting to rush into such familiarity either, laughed and said, "Alright, Jing’er, I won't stay here any longer. I have official business to attend to. You discuss what we spoke of earlier with him. I’m heading off the ship."

After she left, Kuang Chi looked at Jing’er with a puzzled expression.

Once the cabin door closed, Jing’er turned to him. She didn't speak immediately, but instead walked over and sat in a long chair carved from a unique jade stone found in the magma of the Forgotten Star. The material was rare and incredibly comfortable—a gift from the Peak Master of the Tyrant Dragon Peak.

"My sister needs your help," Jing’er finally said.

Politics. It was always damn politics. But looking into Jing’er's eyes, Kuang Chi couldn't bring himself to refuse.

"What do you need me to do? And can you tell me why?"

Jing’er nodded, her expression desolate. "You know that my father the Emperor has no sons, right?"

Kuang Chi frowned and nodded. When Jing’er remained silent, he added, "Surely you and your sister aren't worried about that? Medicine is so advanced nowadays; there must be other ways to conceive a son."

Jing’er shook her head. "My father has tried everything, but to no avail. Until a dozen years ago..." She paused, looking deeply at Kuang Chi. "You must never repeat what I am about to tell you to anyone."

Kuang Chi nodded, though he said, "Can I choose not to know?" He loathed politics. His family education had focused heavily on it, and he had developed a deep aversion to it.

Jing’er shook her head firmly. "No. You must know. Only then can you decide if you are willing to help me, and my sister." She paused again. "A dozen years ago, my father discovered that he had been poisoned."

Kuang Chi gasped. An emperor of an empire being poisoned—the implications were staggering. "How is that possible? He is the Emperor!"

Jing’er smiled bitterly. "It sounds unbelievable, but it is the truth."

"Are you asking me to find an antidote?" Kuang Chi asked. "If the poison has been identified, there must be a cure. Once our family’s Martial Venerates and the Demon Sect arrive, I will take them to find it."

Jing’er shook her head again. "Have you heard of the Winged Race’s 'God’s Withered Sorrow'?"

Kuang Chi shook his head.

"It is a deadly poison—the most famous and rare poison of the Winged Race," Jing’er explained sadly. "The Winged Race is naturally gifted in pharmacology; they far surpass us. Many ailments that humans require technology to treat can be cured by their medicines. 'God’s Withered Sorrow' is colorless and odorless, made from pure natural plants. It is said that even a god would slowly wither and die from it."

Seeing Jing’er growing more distressed, Kuang Chi climbed out of the bath and sat beside her. "Don't be sad. There must be an antidote. When my people arrive, I will find a way."

"There is no antidote," Jing’er said with a bitter smile. "Our Empire captured dozens of famous Winged Race pharmacists, and they all confirmed it is incurable." She paused, then continued, "But that is not what my sister and I need your help with."

"For years, my father could not identify the culprit. The most likely suspects are members of our own royal family. 'God’s Withered Sorrow' has a very long incubation period; when it is not active, it actually helps the body. In the Winged Race, it is used as a divine medicine to increase cultivation speed and promote physical evolution. It’s somewhat similar to the horn that helped us. But," she blushed, "it causes the victim to lose the ability to reproduce."

Kuang Chi turned bright red.

Jing’er’s face went pale. "My father tried everything. He consumed vast amounts of medicine, and we brought in many Winged Race pharmacists—though our royal special forces lost many experts every year because of this—only then were my sister and I born."

Kuang Chi sighed again.

"My father could never find the poisoner. Moreover, his trusted confidants would always mysteriously disappear or die, including my uncle and..." She stopped.

Kuang Chi frowned. "You mean the person who targeted you is the same one who poisoned your father?"

Jing’er nodded heavily. "It is likely someone within our royal family. Perhaps not just one person; otherwise, they wouldn't have the power to cover up the truth so effectively."

"What does your father plan to do?"

Jing’er smiled faintly. "He doesn't trust any other member of the royal family. But he is getting old, and for the sake of the Empire’s stability, it is time to name an heir. He intends for my sister to inherit the throne."

Kuang Chi was truly shocked. "How is that possible? In the tens of thousands of years since humanity entered the interstellar age, there has never been an Empress. Even if your father agrees, will the subjects of the Piaofeng Empire agree? You could fall into civil war!"

Jing’er sighed. "What choice is there? My father said he would rather see the Empire vanish than pass the throne to the other members of the royal family."

Kuang Chi understood the hatred behind those words. If he were in his position, he might do something even more extreme.

"My sister has been managing state affairs since she came of age," Jing’er continued. "She has high support among the people. If she succeeds to the throne, there will be chaos for a while, but it is not impossible."

Kuang Chi looked at Jing’er. "Have you ever thought about becoming Empress yourself?"

Jing’er was stunned, then shouted at him, "Fatty! What are you saying? Do you think I’m that kind of person?" She began to cry.

Kuang Chi realized he had stepped into a hornet's nest. After much coaxing, she stopped crying.

"Tell me," she said, "are you willing to help my sister?"

Kuang Chi sighed helplessly. "I cannot manage your sister’s affairs, but I am willing to help you."

Jing’er’s heart soared. They looked at each other, and it was clear to everyone—even a fool—that they held deep feelings for one another. Yet, that final layer of paper remained unpierced.

Life is often full of such regrets. *If only we had met before you were married*—though that applied to women, it was perfectly fitting for Kuang Chi now. *If only we had met before you were betrothed*—perhaps that was what Jing’er was thinking.