Chapter 389: Hero + War Fragment (6,000 chapters)
* * *: I cried twice while writing this chapter. Really, I don't know why my tears started flowing. Perhaps some brothers don't like things that depict human nature, but don't worry. The plot will pass very quickly. To tell the truth, Jiu 'er's heart can't take it writing like this.
I'll shamelessly ask everyone for an automatic subscription. Jiu 'er needs their help. She desperately needs it.
Williams pushed open the door to Tai's office. A young man in his early twenties was snoring away on the desk outside. His hair was as messy as a bird's nest, and he did not even have time to tidy it up. He appeared incredibly tired.
Williams did not wake Tai's secretary. Instead, he quietly pushed open the door and entered the office, afraid that he would wake him up.
Tai was currently on the desk, studying a large pile of battle reports from various places. He looked much older than before, and the wrinkles on his forehead were getting deeper and deeper. It had only been two months, but Tai's sideburns had already turned white.
Seeing Williams enter, Tai waved his hand, indicating that he should take a seat.
"Little Su fell asleep. I was afraid of waking him up, so I came in myself," Williams said as he closed the door.
Tai was taken aback, and then he sighed. "Let him sleep. That child has truly been tired lately. He hasn't had much rest since the start of the war."
Williams smiled. "Aren't you the same?"
Tai did not comment. He put down the file in his hand and walked over to Williams' side. He took out a can of tea from it and brewed two cups. He bitterly smiled. "Xia Fei gave me this tea back then, and it actually tastes pretty good. Alas, his home planet Earth has already been occupied by the insectoids. Who knows when he'll be able to drink tea like this again?"
The determined Tai was rarely this sentimental. In public, he maintained his strong stance, encouraging the military and the entire Alliance to resist, but in private, the silver-haired Marshal Tai also had times when he was weak. It was just that not many people knew about it.
Williams took the tea, but he was in no hurry to drink it. Instead, he placed it on the table. "Marshal, there's news from Xia Fei."
"When there's no one else around, just call me Tai. Xia Fei, that kid, is rather crazy. He wiped out an insectoid border outpost. What has he done now?" Tai asked with a smile.
Every few days, Xia Fei would report his situation to the Alliance. Though he did not know if the Alliance would receive his report, he still held some hope in his heart. He hoped that Avrils and the people in the company would know how he was doing and not worry about him. Of course, the prerequisite was that they were still alive.
Tai was under immense pressure. Receiving news of Xia Fei wreaking havoc in the insectoid territory was a rare diversion for him. Though it did not have much of an impact on the overall war situation, knowing that someone like Xia Fei was wreaking havoc in the insectoid territory without reason was still quite satisfying.
Williams mysteriously smiled. "You can see for yourself this time. Xia Fei has caused a big stir in the insectoid territory! Moreover, he even sent the video information back. "
Ty didn't pay too much attention to it, thinking to himself, Big commotion? In the end, Xia Fei is just one person. No matter how good his cultivation is or how clever he is, there's no way he can do anything.
Williams still had that mysterious look on his face. He placed his microcomputer on the table and clicked on the video Xia Fei had just sent over. He then took out a box of maple candies from his pocket and popped two into his mouth, watching the video in a relaxed and happy manner.
The video started with Xia Fei killing the Sacred Warrior Howling Moon. He then saw Xia Fei barge into Howling Moon's home alone and slaughter thousands of insectoids in the blink of an eye. After that, he went into the forest and casually killed the Sacred Warrior Howling Moon.
Tai was slightly excited. If it were possible, this highest-ranking military leader of the Alliance would also like to go into battle like Xia Fei. Alas, his position meant that he could not risk his life. Watching Xia Fei finish off the insectoids one by one was a very satisfying thing. Tai felt as if he was the one massacring the insectoid territory, and he could not help but feel his blood boil.
The video was recorded by Xia Fei's high-definition camera. Because he was simply too fast, the average person would not be able to clearly see his movements. Thus, Tai clicked on the automatic slow-motion and carefully watched.
Seeing Xia Fei smash Howling Moon's head into pieces, Tai could not help but wave his fist and curse. "Well done! That was damn satisfying! "
The video then switched to Tanini's Sacred Warrior Academy. Xia Fei killed Mengen in a single move in the armory and then broke out of the encirclement of tens of thousands of insectoids. He used the Star of Ruin to destroy half of the star system, killing more than ten billion insectoids!
When the dazzling scene of a star system being destroyed and the flames of hell blazing through the universe, Tai could no longer suppress his excitement. He stood up and loudly cheered for Xia Fei.
He had been suppressed for far too long. The northern fleet, under the command of Admiral Layton, had engaged in a fierce battle with the insectoids, but they had been outnumbered and forced to retreat. By now, they had lost more than half of their forces, and more than half of the northern star map had been encroached upon by the insectoids.
The southern fleet was being attacked from two sides, and in order to preserve their strength, Tai had withdrawn his main fleet to the west. Eight star regions had fallen to the insectoids.
Now, both the military and the Alliance were facing unprecedented pressure. The eyes of all the humans in this starry sky were focused on the actions of the military. The question of survival or destruction had become blurred. Under the attack of the powerful insectoids, no one could predict the final outcome of the war.
One could easily imagine the pressure Tai was under. After all, he was the leader of the Alliance military and the people relied on him. After being suppressed for far too long, Xia Fei's sudden attack had made Tai optimistic once more.
The flames that were even more dazzling than the sun finally dispersed, and the scene returned to Xia Fei's Impaler. Xia Fei was standing ramrod straight in the command deck, his eyes cold.
"I'm currently advancing from the periphery of the insectoid territory to their imperial capital. I don't know if I can kill my way into the capital, but I do know that blood must be paid in blood! There is no room for negotiation! One person's strength is limited, but I swear that I will use my hands to kill as many enemies as I can! This is the price they must pay for invading the Pan-human Alliance and killing my people!
"If these signals are blocked by the insectoids, let me tell you that there will be even more attacks and killings! This is only the beginning! You'd best believe me, for I've always been a man of my word. "
After saying this, Xia Fei's eyes, which had been brimming with killing intent, suddenly turned gentle. He paused for a moment and then said in an affectionate tone, "Avril, I don't know if you're still alive, but if you're still alive, please wait for me. I promise you that I'll definitely return. If you've already gone to heaven, please wait for me. Wait for me to finish what I must do."
* Pa! *
The screen went blank. Tai had been deeply moved by Xia Fei's very ordinary speech. War and love — these two seemingly unrelated things — were actually the most exquisite combination in the world.
War could make a man's blood boil! Meanwhile, touching love could make a woman weep. In this era of war, the parting of life and death in the midst of battle was often more impactful than the cruelty of war itself.
Tai let out a long sigh and leaned back against the sofa, his face somewhat flushed from excitement.
Williams handed him a teacup. "What do you think? That's a big commotion, isn't it?"
Tai bitterly smiled and nodded. "Not even the entire Alliance military can kill as many as Xia Fei alone, so of course it's a big commotion. I wonder what weapon Xia Fei used to destroy half a star system?"
Williams shook his head, indicating that he did not know, either.
The Alliance had been retreating since the beginning of the war. If they continued retreating, they would reach the western region of the Alliance, at which point they would have nowhere to retreat to.
The most pitiful were the civilians who had been on the run. They had brought their only belongings with them as they followed the fleets to the west. There was no food, no medicinal ingredients, and they could be ambushed at any moment. It could be said that the morale of the entire Alliance, be it the military or the civilians, had dropped to a freezing point. More and more people were beginning to despair, planning to leave their territories and seek a chance of survival in the unknown space.
"Tai, I think we need a hero," Williams sternly said.
Tai was startled. "You mean to push Xia Fei to the front? Make him the hero of this war? Encourage the military to continue fighting the insectoids? "
Williams smiled. "Actually, there's no need for us. Xia Fei is already a hero.
"The signal he sent is on a public frequency. Any warship with a Black Bat radar will be able to receive it. Someone has already uploaded this video to the interplanetary internet, and the entire Alliance is currently discussing this matter. All we need to do is give him a push."
Tai lowered his head in thought for a few moments before muttering to himself, "The Alliance is truly in too much trouble. We really do need someone to step forward to boost morale, or else the Alliance will find it very difficult to continue."
As the saying went, heroes were born in troubled times. Xia Fei had just so happened to appear at the place where he should be, and he had done something that no ordinary person could do. Thus, he naturally became the number one choice to boost the Alliance's morale. Since ancient times, heroes had been born because of this.
"Since you don't have any objections, I'll go and make the arrangements."
"Go. Let everyone know that the Alliance has never given up hope. Those warriors are fighting a bloody battle in a corner that no one knows about! The Alliance hasn't given up yet! "Tai firmly said.
…
Starlink Corporation's First Fleet, flagship, Horizon.
Avril and her family had first followed the military south. As the war progressed, more and more territory was lost, so the fleet began to head west.
Starlink Corporation had a total of ten fleets, and nine of them were under the unified management of the military, joining the battle. Meanwhile, the First Fleet was left behind as a convoy, protecting the ships transporting civilians as they left the war zone.
After all, this was a war that concerned the life and death of an entire race. Every citizen of the Alliance had to contribute their strength, and almost all the factions, even the leviathans like the Adjudicator Union and the Monastic Order, had handed over their military forces to the military.
Avril's stunning face was still as beautiful as ever, but she looked much thinner than before, and there were faint dark circles under her gem-like eyes.
At Avril's insistence, the First Fleet had cleared out all the empty spaces and loaded millions of refugees into them. The corridors, the warehouses, the workshops, and every other place that could be used for resting was filled with civilians from all over the Alliance.
This was a tragic war, and every citizen was deeply worried. The small bags by their sides were the only survival supplies they had. Their houses, cars, and loved ones were all gone in the blink of an eye.
Avril had a sweet smile on her face. She walked through the crowd and saw a child sleeping soundly without a blanket. Avril hurriedly went over and covered him with a blanket, then reached out to touch his forehead to make sure that he was not having a fever before getting up and leaving.
Everyone who saw Avril would affectionately call out her name. Everyone had seen everything this young lady had done. She did not put on any airs and wholeheartedly cared for every refugee, no matter how lowly their status was.
Avril had been at a loss at the very beginning. The news of the Special Task Force's annihilation had made her cry for several days and nights. Xia Fei would often get lost and get into trouble, and Avril had accepted it all. However, just as she was helping Xia Fei set up a home in the capital ring and looking forward to the day when she would marry Xia Fei, this grievous news had nearly destroyed the last of Avril's confidence.
Actually, Avril's request was very simple. She did not want Xia Fei to stay by her side all the time, nor did she want to live a luxurious life. Avril was already very satisfied as long as Xia Fei was alive, but even this small wish was hard to come true.
Avril cried, very sad and very upset. She hid in a dark corner of the room like a wounded kitten, curling up and slowly licking her wounds.
Very soon, the news of Xia Fei's narrow escape arrived. Pang Xing excitedly told Avril the good news. Avril seemed to have become a different person after seeing Xia Fei's short conversation. She began to believe that God still loved her. After going through so many dangers, she and Xia Fei were still alive. Though they were separated by millions of miles, there was still hope as long as they were alive. Compared to those refugees who had just experienced life and death, she was already many times luckier.
The Alliance's emergency transportation capacity was limited. Only about a third of the population could board a spaceship and escape the war zone. Most of them could only wait where they were. No one could predict what would happen if the insectoids took over.
If they were lucky, they might become slaves, living a life worse than dogs and pigs under the scolding and beatings of the insectoids. If they were unlucky, the kind-hearted Avril did not dare to imagine it.
What if they were unlucky? Logically speaking, the fleet was exclusive to the military, and they could completely ignore the fate of the refugees, but the innocent Avril could not bear to see too many civilians with hope of survival left at home to die. Thus, she stood her ground and completely opened up the fleet to the public, taking in as many refugees as possible, providing them with food and daily necessities, and moving them west.
The news spread very quickly, and Avril's benevolent act was welcomed by everyone. Of course, there were those who did not like her. The ships of the privileged class were originally exclusive to only those who could use them. Now that Avril had caused such a ruckus, if they did not follow suit, they would surely be drowned in the spittle of the common people. Thus, they all imitated Starlink Corporation's First Fleet and opened up the fleet to the common people, secretly cursing Avril for being a fool, choosing to live with the poor instead of enjoying the good fortune.
Taking in a large number of the poor was not the end of it. Avril even spent sixteen hours a day going back and forth among the common people, seeing who needed food and who needed a doctor. As time went by, she became very close to these common people who originally lived at the bottom of society.
Turning around the crowded corridor, Avril arrived at an even more crowded activity room. This five thousand square meters gym was originally a place for the ship's staff to exercise, but now that all the advanced fitness equipment had been thrown into space, compared to the lives of countless people, fitness had clearly become less important.
"Sister Avril is here!"
"Hello, Sister Avril!"
"Sister, you're so beautiful. When I grow up, I'm going to marry you," a short and slippery boy said to Avril.
This place accommodated the orphans that had been taken in along the way. Due to the chaos of boarding the ship, after a few private ships, these children had been separated from their parents. More importantly, due to the limited number of people boarding the ship, many parents who did not have the qualifications had tried their best to get their children to leave with the fleet while they themselves remained at home. It was easy to imagine what kind of fate these parents had to go through.
Many of these children were not yet orphans, but everyone knew that they would soon become orphans.
Separated by life and death, flesh and blood, yet unable to reunite. How cruel was this!?
The children all gathered around Avril and hugged her. Some smiled and asked for food, while others asked for their loved ones.
"My mother said that this ship can't fit so many people. She has to give the seats to the grandpas and grandmas. They'll come on the ship behind us. Sister Avril, is what they said true?" a little girl with big, watery eyes asked.
Avril's eyes reddened, and she silently stroked the cute ponytail on her head. "It's true. Mother will definitely come back."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Avril felt her nose sting, and tears began to flow uncontrollably.
"You're not good at all. Mother said to call her if you miss her. Look, you made Sister Avril cry. Don't you know how to call your mother?"
Another girl with single eyelids was a good friend of Avril. When she saw Avril crying, the girl with single eyelids started to complain like a little adult.
The girl with big eyes lowered her head and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito, "I can't get through. I haven't been able to get through since yesterday."
The girl with single eyelids didn't give up. She grabbed the hand of the girl with big eyes and picked up her stuffed rabbit from the ground. "Mother won't lie to us. I'll take you to call her. Maybe she went out to buy groceries and is preparing to cook for you."
The girl with big eyes nodded happily. "My favorite is shrimp scrambled eggs. I can eat a big plate every time."
The girl with single eyelids licked her lips with her little tongue. Dry and hard to swallow compressed food was their staple food every day. Due to the limited food, everyone could only eat half their fill. Although the children's diet was better than the average person's, it still couldn't compare to what they had at home. "I like it too. When we find your mother, can you ask her to let me have a small bite?"
"Yes, I told her that you're my good friend. Mother will definitely say yes."
"Then let's go call her. When we find mother, we'll have shrimp scrambled eggs to eat."
The simple conversation made every adult present tear up uncontrollably. Avril had to cover her mouth tightly to stop herself from crying out loud.
Everyone present knew that the parents of the girl with big eyes lived on a planet called the Unicorn Flying Fish, which had been declared lost the previous day.
The atmosphere was extremely heavy. More children sensed the heavy atmosphere and began to cry for their mothers. Pang Xing, who had been crying silently behind them, hurriedly took out some lollipops, biscuits, and other snacks from his spatial ring and distributed them to the children. The volunteers responsible for taking care of the children also forced a smile and played with the children.
Handing Avril a handkerchief, Pang Xing quietly retreated behind her.
Everyone saw Avril's behavior. Not long ago, she was just a naughty girl who liked to tear apart the toys around her at the slightest displeasure. The ancients said that only war could make people grow up overnight and become strong overnight. Pang Xing now deeply understood this point.
After all, Avril wasn't even eighteen yet! In many people's eyes, she was just a child, but now that this big child had taken on the responsibility of taking care of even more children, everyone could not help but sigh at how cruel war was.
There was a large screen in the room. Avril and many other children were sitting together, watching cartoons on the screen, biting on a lollipop. It was only at this moment that Avril looked more like a naive girl. Most of the time, she had to force herself to mature.
All of a sudden, the live broadcast was interrupted. On the screen was the scene of Xia Fei fighting the enemy. Many children were grumbling softly. In their eyes, war was a matter for adults and had nothing to do with them.
Avril's eyes were bright, and she clutched her heart tightly. Every time Xia Fei clashed with the enemy, she would be on tenterhooks.
When the galaxy exploded on the screen, Avril, like everyone else, felt the excitement in her heart, but she could not get rid of that deep worry.
On the screen, Xia Fei was standing in the command deck of the warship with his head held high. His eyes were resolute and deep, like a hero from the legends. His clothes were as ordinary as ever, and there was nothing praiseworthy about his appearance, but through the thin screen, everyone could feel the transcendent temperament he exuded.
This was the temperament of a maverick who would never give up easily. It was as if the only thing in this world that could stop him was himself. As long as it was something he had set his mind on, he would not hesitate to sacrifice his life for it.
Even those ignorant children were intimidated by this aura, shutting their mouths and not daring to breathe too loudly. The room was silent.
"Avril, I don't know if you're still alive or not, but if you are, please wait for me. I promise you that I'll be back. If you've already gone to heaven, please wait for me. Wait for me to finish what I have to do."
This was simply the most profound declaration of love! Behind those calm words was the most heartfelt love for a person!
Avril was stunned. She did not think that Xia Fei would declare his feelings for her in front of the entire Alliance. There was no need for any explanation; those words had already explained everything.
Two streams of tears flowed down the corners of her eyes, but this time, it was not despair but happiness. Avril felt that she was the luckiest woman in the world. Xia Fei had saved her life before, and now he was declaring his love for her in front of the entire Alliance. Who else could do that?
The children all turned to look at Avril curiously.
"Sister Avril, was that big brother talking to you just now?"
"Is he your boyfriend?"
"Are you going to marry him?"
The children's questions were simple and honest. Though they did not understand what love was, children these days had watched too many romance dramas and knew quite a lot.
Avril wiped away her tears, a shy smile on her face.
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