Chapter Four: Predation (Part II)

Just as Kuangchi was devouring his food, unsure of what he should do next, an aged voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Young man, are you a new exile?"

Startled by the voice, Kuangchi turned sharply, for the sound had come from directly behind him. He hadn’t sensed anyone approaching, nor had Xiaohua. Spinning around quickly, he found himself face-to-face with a humanoid creature, standing less than three meters away, its entire body covered in strange white fur.

The sight brought Kuangchi's thoughts immediately to the creatures native to this planet, for most life forms here had long, snowy-white fur on their bodies. The stranger was about the same height as Kuangchi, though his build was smaller by two sizes.

Seeing Kuangchi turn, but not speak, the stranger asked again, "Are you a newly arrived exile to the Forgotten Star?"

Kuangchi knew well that this planet was called the Forgotten Star, and guessed that 'exile' referred to those like himself who had been banished here. He nodded gently.

The stranger, seeing Kuangchi nod, laughed a few deep, melancholy chuckles before saying, "So I finally meet an exile. Can you tell me about the situation outside?"

Kuangchi thought for a moment, scrutinizing the stranger but unable to determine his species, so he asked, "May I ask, what species are you?"

The stranger was clearly surprised by the question and stood motionless for a long while before, with a mixture of loneliness and resignation, he replied, "Species? Haha. Young man, don’t you think the way we look now is rather strange?"

He paused, but beneath the mass of fur, his eyes remained bright and sharp, like twin cold stars, gazing straight into Kuangchi’s own.

Kuangchi understood at once. He nodded and smiled, "Actually, it’s not so strange. The creatures on this planet all seem to have a layer of insulation on their bodies."

The stranger laughed again, his laughter tinged with helplessness, and continued, "What if I told you I am also human?"

Kuangchi was stunned, then recalled information about mutated humans he had once seen in his family’s library.

Humans now inhabit dozens of star systems, with millions of life planets under their control according to an incomplete census a millennium ago. Many of these planets differ greatly from the ancestral home of humanity. If humans live in such environments without energy shields or terraforming, after a few generations, they adapt and evolve to fit the planet’s conditions. Officially, this is called evolution, but privately, people refer to it as mutation. Such humans are known as mutants.

These mutants are not accepted by orthodox humans. Most can only survive on their original planets, rarely venturing into interstellar human society.

The stranger did not expect a reply from Kuangchi. Smiling, he explained, "My ancestors came to this planet thousands of years ago. Over the millennia, we have become what you see now. According to them, these changes are the result of gradual adaptation to this planet."

He laughed again and asked, "How did you come here? I’ve heard this planet is the harshest of the three life planets in the Forgotten Star Domain, and exiles rarely choose it, for it is known as a place with no return. The last exile to arrive here, according to my information, was five hundred years ago—the Demon King of Falling Stars."

Kuangchi had always wanted to learn more about this planet, and the person before him seemed the perfect source. He quickly explained how he had come to this planet and then asked, "Could you tell me more about this place? I’ve been here more than ten days, searching for human settlements, but I haven’t found any."

The stranger nodded repeatedly. "Of course. Meeting an exile has always been my greatest wish. I’d also like to hear about the world outside the Forgotten Star."

He continued, "There aren’t many humans on this planet. The environment is far too harsh for us, even for those of us whose ancestors have lived here for dozens of generations. The survival rate for our descendants is very low. It's even worse for those whose families haven’t been here long. There are nine large cities on this planet, each with several million inhabitants. There are also nearly a hundred smaller settlements."

He smiled, tugging at the fur on his face. "You’ll understand more once you come into the city with me. For now, we should focus on catching a few ant-beasts to bring back."

He pointed to the distant creatures locked in combat.

Meanwhile, in a secret chamber within the imperial palace of the Carrow Empire, a clandestine meeting was underway.

The current Emperor of the Carrow Empire sat at the head of the table, his face twisted in anger, growling at the three elderly men standing before him, "How are you managing things? You can’t even handle such a simple matter."

The elder on the far right, his face full of fear, replied, "Your Majesty, please calm yourself. I have already sent several dozen elite agents to carry out this mission."

The Emperor snorted coldly, "You still failed at such a minor task. How can I trust you to handle anything for me in the future?"

After a pause, the Emperor continued, "No matter what, you must ensure he is silenced before he finds the Kuang family. They must not live to meet those traitors in the Kuang family. You understand what would happen if the Kuang family discovered my scheme against their heir. That is something I never wish to see. Do you understand?"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. We understand," the three replied in unison.

After a long silence, the Emperor spoke again, his tone slow and menacing, "I have already arranged for that Kuang family boy to be sent to the Forgotten Star Domain for you. If he manages to return alive from there, the three of you may as well end your own lives."

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