Chapter Nine: The New Team of Young Dragons, Part 2

The outcome of the duel with Hua Qiang made him truly respect Liu Shaoyu—not for any other reason. At first, Hua Qiang believed he had only lost because Liu Shaoyu used agility to feint, catching him off guard. He even felt a trace of disdain for Liu Shaoyu’s tactics. Yet, the subsequent head-on clash of strength shattered these thoughts entirely. When it came to raw power, he held no advantage; his own two hands were easily blocked by just one of Liu Shaoyu’s. For someone like Hua Qiang, who had always relied on brute force, this was a devastating blow.

To utterly defeat a man, you must best him at his greatest strength. Originally, everyone thought Hua Qiang’s true talent lay in drone piloting, but in fact, what he prided himself on most was his physical might. In his age group, he was revered for his prowess in mecha duels, having dispatched countless opponents with a single stroke. As Hua Qiang recalled his past glories, he could only shake his head at his current defeat.

However, when it came to Liu Shaoyu, who was a year younger, Hua Qiang was completely convinced.

Recruiting the remaining team members was far less challenging, mainly because none were as outstanding as Hua Qiang. However, among those vying for the position of quartermaster, one candidate particularly caught Liu Shaoyu’s interest.

She was a young woman with a cropped hairstyle. Despite the prevalence of corrective surgery for nearsightedness, she wore large, black-framed glasses as a fashion statement. Standing around one meter seventy, she was not tall by current standards—perhaps even a little short. Yet, her employment record with various bounty groups was impressive, including stints with several top fleets. She worked only for money, not for people: after each mission, she’d take her pay and leave. If you wanted her for another mission, you’d have to pay—again.

And she was expensive. Why? In her own words: “If you hire me, you don’t need to worry about logistics. As long as you don’t mess up on your end, I won’t on mine. And if you do mess up, I’ll still ensure your safe retreat.” Essentially, hiring her was like purchasing high-cost insurance for the fleet. Her mission record backed up her claims—with over three thousand jobs, all successfully completed, and nothing but praise from employers. Within the Cyclops Bounty Group, she was known by the nickname “Moneygrubber.”

For this recruitment, Liu Shaoyu spared no expense—not only paying high wages, but also promising that all spoils of war, except for the queen bug, would go to the team. Spoils were traditionally a captain’s privilege, and though their value didn’t always match the bounty, sometimes a single haul could be worth several missions’ pay. For Moneygrubber, this was quite tempting. She was especially interested because this mission’s destination was the Fengtower Star System—infested with bugs whose shells were highly valuable. The soldier bugs’ bodies would quickly desiccate after death, leaving behind intact shells worth a fortune—provided, of course, you killed the queen bug that commanded them. Otherwise, you’d end up as their next meal.

Now, Liu Shaoyu’s fleet needed one more crucial member: an executive officer.

The role of executive officer was particularly important to Liu Shaoyu. In simple terms, the executive officer was the second-in-command, able to assume command if the captain was incapacitated, mediate between the captain and crew, and coordinate the various departments within the starship. Choosing the right person was a matter of utmost deliberation for any captain.

As Liu Shaoyu pondered this dilemma, a name caught his eye: Xu Meng.

Liu Shaoyu knew this name all too well—it was the very same executive officer he had partnered with during simulated battles at the Officer Academy. But was it really him? That seemed too coincidental; Liu Shaoyu would need to confirm.

As it turned out, it really was him. After graduation, Xu Meng ought to have returned to serve in the Seventh Fleet, where, thanks to General Hu—a former comrade of his father—he could have advanced quickly. But for some reason, despite earning top training scores at the rear, his transfer orders never came. Later, General Hu explained: many of the senior figures who had disagreed with his father’s politics, and who had harbored grudges due to his father’s bluntness and integrity, took the opportunity after his death to retaliate. Not only was he denied the honors he deserved, but his rank was also stripped away. While these petty men dared not act while his father lived, once he was gone, they wasted no time in showing their true colors.

No one paid much attention to Xu Meng when he was just a cadet, but after joining the Seventh Fleet and being sent to the front lines by General Hu, his rapidly rising scores drew attention. Word spread, and eventually reached the leader of that small clique within the military. Having finally secured a position of power after eliminating Xu Meng’s father as a rival, this man could not tolerate such a variable. Using his influence, he suppressed Xu Meng’s career. Even General Hu was powerless against directives from the highest levels. When Xu Meng learned the truth, he quit in anger—keeping his commission but joining the bounty groups, hoping to quickly prove himself in battle with a new fleet.

Yet, to the fleet commanders in the bounty group, his outstanding record as a reserve officer meant nothing—they cared only about his work history within their ranks. Not every captain was as approachable as Liu Shaoyu, willing to spar with him for acceptance. As a result, Xu Meng found himself overlooked and at a loss—until he received a communication.

Seeing the familiar face on the screen, Xu Meng nearly broke down in tears. He had thought he’d never see Liu Shaoyu again, having heard rumors of his death at the front. For a month, he had barely slept, devastated by both Liu Shaoyu’s supposed death and the revelation of his own suppression. Yet, like father, like son—no matter the hardship, he endured. His grief became his motivation, driving him to carve out a place for himself among the bounty groups, convinced that true talent would inevitably shine.

It was a remarkable stroke of fate. After their reunion, Xu Meng naturally became the executive officer of Liu Shaoyu’s new fleet.

With this, Liu Shaoyu’s fledgling Young Dragon Fleet finally had its command team. Once the ships, supplies, and personnel were in place, they would be ready.

The universe’s starry expanse was ever unchanging. Every time Liu Shaoyu gazed out at the cosmic sea, he felt his own insignificance. Only in these moments did his heart find true peace. Watching the distant, twinkling lights, he knew that each speck—no larger than a fingertip—might be an entire galaxy, or a realm billions of light years away.

At such times, he would ponder: where did the endless river of stars truly end? What wonders awaited even farther, beyond the reach of light? Perhaps, in his lifetime—no, he was certain—he would one day find the edge of the universe.

But Liu Shaoyu’s greatest confusion now lay in his condition before his resurrection. He had searched every available record, but found nothing. As for the mysterious voice, he could only speculate. He kept this question buried deep, never confiding in anyone. Perhaps it was his greatest secret.

There is an ancient saying: “Few are as idle and free as we are.” Such a beautiful galaxy should not be admired by Liu Shaoyu alone. Across the corridor, at some unknown moment, another figure had appeared—a young woman in a white dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, the star’s radiance illuminating her face. She, too, gazed at the Milky Way.

Sensing his gaze, Wang Yuyan turned, catching Liu Shaoyu’s eyes and offering a gentle smile.

“Good night,” she said, turning and disappearing into the corridor behind her.

She truly was beautiful, Liu Shaoyu thought with a slight, involuntary smile.

As he prepared to retire for the night, a communication disrupted his plans.

“Captain, I’d like to… talk for a moment,” Hua Qiang’s resolute face appeared on the screen.

“All right, where shall we meet?” Given the late hour and Hua Qiang’s expression, Liu Shaoyu sensed it was important.

“Come to the lounge. I can’t access your quarters.”

Naturally, Liu Shaoyu was staying in the top-floor super VIP suite, courtesy of Master Wang—a privilege too good to pass up.

Before long, Liu Shaoyu followed the guidance lines to the lounge where Hua Qiang stayed.

“What is it?” Liu Shaoyu asked directly.

“I’ve reviewed the mission: the objective is to capture a level two Fengtower queen bug alive.” Hua Qiang glanced at Liu Shaoyu, who nodded in confirmation. Once crew were officially accepted and signed their contracts, they could access mission details. Liu Shaoyu waited for him to continue.

“Since there’s no specific target assigned, I thought… I actually have coordinates for a level three Fengtower queen bug. Compared to level two, the level three not only controls more soldier bugs, but has evolved a new hatching function. The Capet bug is a new breed with carapaces sixty percent harder than standard soldiers, and it can secrete corrosive fluids. In terms of psychic abilities, it has increased both control range and attack power, and now it can also interfere with fleet communications and steal transmissions.”

Hua Qiang explained steadily. Liu Shaoyu had already researched the various queen bug tiers and their abilities when the mission was assigned.

He quickly understood Hua Qiang’s intention—likely, Hua Qiang’s father’s fleet was destroyed by this very queen bug.

As it turned out, his guess was correct. Judging by their current strength, a direct confrontation with a level three queen was not out of the question. However, capturing one alive was another matter: a level three queen, being mid-tier among Fengtower queens, possessed formidable combat power and many survival tactics. Each tier meant a near-doubling of actual strength. If it were only a level two queen with neurotoxic abilities, Liu Shaoyu could guarantee success. With a level three, he was less certain. The fate of the entire fleet was at stake, and this was not a decision he could make alone. Still, he didn’t want to disappoint Hua Qiang. As he hesitated, Hua Qiang spoke again.

“I know it’s a lot to ask. But if you can, please consider it. Thank you.” With that, Hua Qiang bowed deeply and turned away.

If Liu Shaoyu had wavered before, Hua Qiang’s gesture now steeled his resolve.

“Send me the coordinates,” Liu Shaoyu called to Hua Qiang’s retreating figure.

Hearing those words, Hua Qiang froze in his tracks. Although Liu Shaoyu hadn’t given a definite answer, Hua Qiang knew he had been presumptuous and hadn’t expected immediate agreement. He’d hoped to prove himself within the fleet, perhaps waiting until it grew stronger. But he could wait no longer; avenging his father had become his sole purpose.

Understanding Hua Qiang’s feelings, Liu Shaoyu resolved to help him achieve his revenge. Yet it would require a more meticulous strategy. Against a level three queen, he still had confidence in his fleet.

Hua Qiang turned, bowed once more, and vanished down the corridor—afraid to let anyone see his moment of vulnerability.

Back in his quarters, Liu Shaoyu, overcome by the day’s exhaustion, fell asleep at last. Yet tonight, many found sleep elusive: Hua Qiang, Xu Meng, and Wang Yuyan among them.

Tomorrow, when the solar star once again shone upon the land of Jiuzhou, this brand-new Young Dragon Squad would set forth on their journey.

What awaited them on the path ahead?