Chapter Two: Return to the Berserker Star

Perhaps it was due to Kuang Chi’s arrival, or perhaps the delegation from the Karo Empire had indeed completed their mission. In any case, half a month after Kuang Chi appeared—after they had settled the terms for the sale of Li Bing’s technology—Count Solomon, the leader of the Karo Empire’s delegation, personally came to inform Kuang Chi that the entire group would depart for home in three days.

It might have been that the Karo Empire’s diplomatic delegation truly commanded significant respect, or perhaps they had arranged everything in advance upon their arrival. In any case, their journey home was undisturbed; nothing happened, not even an encounter with space pirates.

Upon returning to the territory of the Karo Empire, Count Solomon sent news of Kuang Chi’s return to the Emperor.

Although humanity had not yet achieved real-time interstellar long-distance communication, short-range messaging was possible. Video clips could be transmitted from relay stations set up on various planets, step by step, all the way to the imperial capital of the Karo Empire.

To ensure Kuang Chi’s safe return to Kuang Zhan Star, Count Solomon specifically ordered the ship to detour.

As soon as Kuang Chi stepped out of the spacecraft at the spaceport on Kuang Zhan Star, his mother rushed forward and embraced him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably as she held his oversized head.

His father, though equally moved, was a man and thus better able to bear it. He simply patted Kuang Chi’s large head and busied himself thanking Count Solomon.

The delegation did not linger on Kuang Zhan Star; after seeing Kuang Chi off the ship, they immediately set course for the imperial capital.

Kuang Chi’s grandfather was not on Kuang Zhan Star; together with more than twenty elders from the Kuang Martial Hall, he remained in the imperial capital, according to Kuang Chi’s father, still urging the Emperor to apprehend the culprit.

After listening to Kuang Chi’s account, his parents were immensely grateful to Mo Dao. When Kuang Chi explained that Mo Dao wished to recruit disciples on Kuang Zhan Star, not only did his parents agree on the spot, but several family elders nodded repeatedly in approval. His grandmother, in particular, wholeheartedly assured Mo Dao that he could recruit as many as he wished.

Seeing things progress so smoothly, Mo Dao was visibly excited.

After arranging Mo Dao’s lodgings, Kuang Chi’s grandmother and parents called him into a conference room alone to ask for details about the incident. Upon hearing his full account, especially the harrowing escape from the battleship, Kuang Chi’s mother wept even more bitterly, mourning for those who had sacrificed their lives.

His father went further, summoning an official and instructing him to provide additional comfort and compensation to the families of the fallen crew.

Three months later, Kuang Chi’s grandfather and the family elders finally returned. Upon arrival, they interrogated Kuang Chi as if he were a suspect, especially probing the details of the attack—so thoroughly that nothing could be more exhaustive. Imperial officials responsible for investigating the matter had accompanied them to Kuang Zhan Star.

Yet, at the time of the incident, Kuang Chi himself knew little, and thus he could offer little assistance to the investigation.

After the officials left, Kuang Chi’s grandfather suddenly asked, “Chi’er, I hear your savior wishes to establish a sect on our planet. Is this true?”

Kuang Chi, confused, nodded. “Grandfather, there shouldn’t be any issue, right? Our family’s martial arts can’t be passed on to outsiders. Wouldn’t it be good for the people to have a place to learn advanced techniques?”

His grandfather and several elders exchanged glances before speaking again. “Chi’er, you’re still young and may not understand some things. But think about it: if the people gain powerful martial arts, what if they oppose our family’s rule?”

Kuang Chi didn’t really grasp these concerns. After thinking and glancing at the surrounding elders, he replied, “Grandfather, I don’t think so. Kuang Zhan Star has always been peaceful under our family’s rule. We aren’t the sort of nobles who ignore the people’s hardship or exploit them ruthlessly.”

His grandfather shook his head, motioned Kuang Chi to sit beside him, and continued, “These aren’t things you can understand yet. Allowing a sect to establish itself nearby will have a great impact on our family. Still, since your savior has shown you such kindness, which is a great favor to our family, we have no objection to recruiting disciples here. However, there must be a limit.”

In the end, the Kuang family agreed to let Mo Dao establish a sect on Kuang Zhan Star, but the number of disciples could not exceed one thousand.

With a face full of helplessness, Kuang Chi went to Mo Dao’s quarters to relay the restriction. Mo Dao didn’t mind at all; he merely smiled and said, “That’s plenty. A thousand disciples are more than enough. However, kid, I’d like to buy a small island on this planet for the sect’s headquarters. Do you think that’s possible? If not, help me pull some strings.”

This matter was easily settled. Three days later, Kuang Chi’s grandfather simply gifted Mo Dao an island from the map.

Since Mo Dao received the island, Kuang Chi no longer saw him in the Kuang family’s mansion; their conversations were now limited to communications.

A month later, Kuang Chi set out once more for the Karo Empire’s capital planet, Karo Star, as his two fiancées were now studying at the Imperial Academy.

This journey to Karo Star was smooth sailing. Not only did the Kuang family dispatch two main battleships to escort him, but the imperial garrisons along the route also sent their own ships to escort Kuang Chi’s vessel out of their respective jurisdictions.

Kuang Chi was unaware that, because of his previous incident, the local garrison commanders had undergone a major reshuffling, with dozens directly thrown into prison for dereliction of duty.

My head spins... I’ve lost all motivation...