Chapter 118: A Single Word Awakens the Dreamer!

Just as Chu Xiao aimed his weapon at the alpha wolf, it seemed to sense his intent and bolted toward the rear in a frantic retreat. Seeing the beast about to escape his range, Chu Xiao didn't have time to aim carefully; he fired a shot that, while not fatal, struck the wolf in the abdomen. The alpha let out a howl and vanished into the pitch-black night without looking back. Upon hearing that cry, the rest of the pack turned and scattered as well. Seeing the wolves retreat, Wang Lulu finally exhaled in relief. She knew that if Chu Xiao hadn't wounded the leader, many of them would likely have been injured tonight.

"Are you hurt? Why must you charge ahead so recklessly the moment a fight breaks out?" Wang Lulu anxiously patted Chu Xiao’s body, checking for any wolf bites. Chu Xiao spun around to let her see for herself, proving he was unscathed. "If I don't lead the charge, should I let the soldiers go first? My life is a life, and so are theirs. If I didn't, how could I command their respect?" Wang Lulu understood the logic, but seeing him in danger made her wish that her beloved would prioritize his own safety over everyone else's.

"Everyone, gather some of the dead wolves. We're having roasted meat tonight!" Chu Xiao hadn't expected the Savage Mountains to be this treacherous. If not for their numbers, they might have suffered a disastrous fate. He suspected the missing villagers had met their end at the jaws of these very wolves. As the group began roasting the meat, the aroma soon wafted into Wang Lulu’s tent, drawing her out. Chu Xiao was holding a wolf leg, intending to bring it to her. Most girls would likely be repulsed by such a meal, but Wang Lulu was well-versed in wilderness survival—she had eaten everything from wolf meat to insects in the past. She took the meat and immediately began to eat.

"Hmm, not bad, though it's a bit overcooked and charred!" In the wild, Wang Lulu shed the delicate manners of a city girl, eating with the hearty, unreserved appetite of a rugged man.

"You're so different out here compared to in the city!" Chu Xiao was taken aback, having never seen this side of her. Yet, he felt no disdain; if anything, this version of Wang Lulu seemed even more endearing.

"I feel at ease here. It's as if a great weight has been lifted from my heart. I feel like this is the real me. Do you not like me this way?"

"No, no, how could that be? I love you no matter how you are!" Chu Xiao laughed awkwardly and quickly clarified. Seeing oil on the corners of her mouth, he gently wiped it away with his hand.

"Well? Why aren't you eating? Just standing there watching me!" Seeing him standing there looking foolish, Wang Lulu, feeling a bit awkward, thrust the wolf leg toward his mouth, urging him to eat so he’d feel more comfortable.

Once they had finished their meal, everyone returned to their tents to sleep, save for those on guard duty. Wang Lulu, having finished her first shift, returned and fell asleep almost instantly from exhaustion. The mountain nights were exceptionally cold and damp. Chu Xiao, still awake, noticed she had returned and went over to drape his own quilt over her, retreating to his tent to sleep under his own thin coat.

Just as Chu Xiao was drifting between wakefulness and sleep, he suddenly heard the same rustling of leaves he had noted during the day. It wasn't the wind; it sounded like someone walking. Ever since entering the mountains, he had felt as if a pair of eyes were constantly tracking them, yet he could never find any trace of a person. Had he misheard? He lay in bed pondering this, but soon it was time for his shift. Putting those thoughts aside, he got up and went to stand guard.

"Did you hear any sounds just now?"
"No, nothing out of the ordinary, just the wind in the trees."

Hearing this from the soldiers, he hoped he was merely suffering from auditory hallucinations brought on by fatigue. Dawn gradually broke. As the sun rose, a brilliant, fiery red, Chu Xiao hoped that once he defeated the Pluto, he could retire to the mountains with Wang Lulu. He dreamed of a simple life—plain tea, coarse rice, and the warmth of a home with his wife and children. He wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his days in peace by her side.

The kitchen staff had risen early to prepare hot meals for the troops. Chu Xiao asked for a separate portion—a bowl of porridge and two steamed buns—and took them to Wang Lulu’s tent. Seeing she was still asleep, he chose not to wake her, wanting her to rest after the grueling trek. He decided on a blanket search of the area, aiming to complete it in two days. After breakfast, he assembled the troops.

"Time is tight. We must finish the search within two days. We will spread out at five-meter intervals and conduct a sweeping grid search!"

The soldiers quickly formed up and began the operation. Two days passed in a flash; although they found a few meteorite fragments, it was merely the tip of the iceberg. Chu Xiao returned to Pearl City that same day. Seeing his dejected expression, Number One knew the results were poor.

"Don't lose heart. We can think of other ways. There is always a solution!"

Chu Xiao knew Number One was trying to console him. While all roads might lead to Rome, time was running out, and he couldn't think of a better plan. As he struggled with the problem, two soldiers walked by, discussing the meteorites. One remarked, "How many meteorites could have possibly fallen to the Nine Provinces? We've probably searched the whole place by now!"

Though the soldiers spoke carelessly, the words struck Chu Xiao like a lightning bolt. He slapped his forehead. "My goodness, Number One! Why didn't we think of this before?" His excitement surged, and the gloom that had clouded his face vanished.

"What idea have you come up with?"

"While there aren't many meteorites here in the Nine Provinces, they are celestial objects! There are plenty of them in space. We can go to space to find them—as many as we need!"

Number One was momentarily stunned by the simplicity of the realization. How had they failed to see it, wasting so much manpower and resources on the ground?

"I will make arrangements for a space mission immediately. But our current space capsules are too small, only holding four or five people. If we want to bring back a large quantity of meteorites, we need to modify them!"

"Set it for three days from now. Spend these three days working around the clock to modify the capsule!"

Number One, known for his decisive action, immediately called the Space Agency, ordering them to complete the modifications within three days no matter the cost. There was no time to waste; they had to secure enough meteorites as soon as possible.