Redemption

actual title: redeem oneself by good service; atone for one’s crimes by doing good deeds (戴罪立功)

However, it was He Qixing who hesitated.

Because his father claimed that he did those things while he was being controlled and he couldn’t muster the determination to take action. Although he was under control, his father had indeed committed heinous crimes. He glanced at Nie Chuan and delegated this challenging task to him.

“It’s up to you to do it.”

Nie Chuan also hesitated, but thinking that if he didn’t kill He Yunan now, they would have to deal with the creature below later. He gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

“Fine.”

He solemnly lifted the sword in his hand and just as he rushed forward, the slime below He Yunan rose up, forming a high wall that blocked his path. Nie Chuan sensed danger, but regardless of the risk, he had to charge upwards.

Nie Chuan soared upward, and the propulsion under his feet produced explosive effects. Chasing the rising wall, he overtook its building speed, took a large step, leaped over the wall and flipped over it.

As if premeditated, the wall started falling backward from the moment he flipped over. The entire structure collapsed, drenching the mecha and, along with Nie Chuan, buried them, forming a shell around the monster’s entire head.

This process happened in an instant.

When He Qixing rushed over, all that remained in front of him was a thick layer of solidified armor. One layer after another enveloped the spot where his father had just stood. He raised his mechanical arm, fiercely striking the portion of the armor where the slime had not solidified. But the slime on the partially solidified part corroded his palm, and he shouted.

“Nie Chuan! Father!”

The hovering Colonel, along with others, had not found another breakthrough point. They flew up following He Qixing and just happened to hear his voice.

The colonel looked at the black shell wrapped in slime, unable to tell what it was. He asked, “Is this the monster’s head, Major He?”

He Qixing picked up his sword and hacked at the incredibly hard shell.

The colonel finally noticed something was wrong. “Major He, where is Lieutenant Nie Chuan?”

The others had already figured it out from He Qixing’s actions. “Could it be… he’s inside here?”

Since Major He had been calling into this shell all along, there was a high probability that Lieutenant Nie Chuan had been swallowed by this creature.

Thinking of the corrosive liquid on the creature, the colonel regretfully pursed his lips. “Major He, you need to stay rational.”

Having consoled He Qixing, the colonel still held onto hope. He activated the energy cannon mode on the mecha, aimed the barrel at the back of the head, and fired a shot.

The powerful recoil pushed the colonel a bit. The creature remained unharmed, but the colonel knew he had guessed correctly.

“The monster has hidden inside the shell, sealing its absorbing mouth. If we fiercely attack its head now, we should be able to eliminate it. Let’s go back quickly, and General Mo Xiao will bombard this area. Not every part of its body can absorb energy.”

They had just experimented, and the parts of the creature’s body with eggs could absorb energy. This area had shown a different reaction; it was likely the creature’s weakness.

“Destroying this head may kill the monster.”

“Yes, Colonel.”

The colonel, along with the others, stealthily descended. Before that, he said to He Qixing, “Later, this area may be bombed by an energy cannon. Before the bombardment, we will signal you. Be sure to leave in time.”

He Qixing remained silent. The colonel repeated this information several times, but he still didn’t speak, so the colonel took it as his tacit approval.

The army personnel rushed to General Mo Xiao’s control room.

Upon seeing them, General Mo Xiao frowned. “Where are Major He and Lieutenant Nie Chuan?”

“Lieutenant Nie Chuan sacrificed himself during the exploration process, and Major He is unwilling to accept the fact. He is staying there temporarily,” the colonel reported.

General Mo Xiao was taken aback. “Who sacrificed?”

“Lieutenant Nie Chuan.”

Mo Xiao was momentarily stunned.

Her red hair seemed to dim a bit as she bit her lip, clenching her fists and slamming them onto the control room’s console.

Scenes of her running with Nie Chuan under the setting sun flashed in her eyes. Those days of them being the general’s fans seemed so recent, yet now she was suddenly told that a soldier who was just a student, had sacrificed himself?! It was too difficult for her to accept.

She didn’t know how to face the General. Perhaps she shouldn’t have allowed two students to undertake such a dangerous mission, even if Nie Chuan had insisted. Mo Xiao has a rare regret in her decisions.

“General, my condolences,” Andrew, aware of Mo Xiao’s close relationship with Nie Chuan, promptly interjected to offer comfort.

Mo Xiao calmed down and finally raised her eyes, now filled with a murderous intent. “You’ve searched for so long, and we’re now missing one person. So, what solution have you found? Can you kill it?”

“The topmost head is its weak point. It has shrunk into a shell it created for itself. Our energy cannon isn’t enough to break through the shell, and an energy sword won’t cut it either. So, I’d like to request permission, General, to bomb the creature again. This time, we’ll concentrate all firepower on the monster’s head,” the Colonel reported, awaiting Mo Xiao’s decision.

“Do it.”

Just as Mo Xiao gave the order, someone outside spoke.

“General Mo Xiao! His Royal Highness’s starship has arrived!”

“General Gu Huan must be on board.”

“General Gu Huan?”

“General?!”

The soldiers around them showed both excitement and distress at how to react to the return of the General because, until now, the General was still officially an SSS-level fugitive of the Empire.

“The General has finally returned.”

Mo Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, feeling everything becoming lighter. Andrew couldn’t resist a sarcastic remark, “Believe me, the people on the Interstellar Court Planet are probably feeling quite troubled right now. The fugitive they were chasing around for so long has returned to save their planet.”

Mo Xiao: “…”

Knowing that the General had returned, Mo Xiao didn’t share their excitement. She still had something weighing on her mind–how to tell the General about Nie Chuan’s sacrifice.

During the docking of the two starships, Mo Xiao saw the man on the video screen dressed in military uniform, as gallant as ever. Her eyes suddenly moistened, but she didn’t let the tears flow. She just cleared her throat, her voice a bit hoarse, and saluted.

“Commander Gu Huan, you’ve returned.”

“No, currently, you’re still the Commander,” Gu Huan’s golden eyes flashed with a gentle color.

Mo Xiao was stunned for a moment. Did the Crown Prince and the Interstellar Court still intend to restrict the General’s actions due to his supposed crimes?

“I am the commander-in-chief of the front line specially appointed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Gu Huan.”

“It’s a pleasure to work with you.”

Although he was still a criminal, the Empire allowed him to redeem himself through community service.