Good enthusiasm

Honey Buzzard came to the medical office alone. The doctor was setting his bones, so he had free time to scroll through his terminal for a bit.

 

[Interface loading, please try again later]

 

Hm? Why did the network suddenly go down?

 

Honey Buzzard mashed the refresh button. “Strange…”

 

Just then, a surgical screw turned slightly in its tray. The iodine bottle on the table toppled over with a bang, as its dark liquid wildly gushed out.

 

The doctor hurriedly stood up from his chair: “An earthquake?!”

 

In that instant, the glass window clattered sharply under high-frequency vibration, and the entire room began to shake violently, as if a giant foot had suddenly stood up and slammed down heavily onto the dome.

 

“It doesn’t feel like an earthquake—”

 

Honey Buzzard instinctively ran to the window, pressed himself against the glass, and looked upward.

 

Then, he saw a scene he would never forget for the rest of his life.

 

At the edge of his vision, flakes of wall plaster crumbled away, revealing beneath them a bright vermilion-red paint job. It was like a seagull on a lighthouse spreading its wings and preparing for takeoff, facing the howling north wind, throttling up all ten engines, roaring back into the sky in the vast lift generated by the Bernoulli effect.

 

So swift and impatient, as if from the very day it had landed atop the palace, it had been preparing for this moment—to spread its wings once more.

 

Honey Buzzard was dumbstruck, wondering if he was hallucinating.

 

—How could there be a ship at the top of the palace tower?!

 

At the same time, countless heads on the ground tilted upward. In the reflections of their pupils, mottled dark clouds rolled forward under the ship’s propulsion, layer upon layer of air turning into majestic and arrogant waves.

 

“What monster is that?”

 

“Such a huge ship. Since the previous dynasty fell, I’ve never seen a ship this big.”

 

“It’s flying straight at us!”

 

It was like a relic of an era, passing low overhead, grazing people’s scalps. Wherever it went, people’s souls seemed to tremble along with it.

 

Lu Hang was on duty in the city. He looked up and felt something was off.

 

How had he never seen a ship of such high specifications in the Capital before?

 

His vice-captain watched him dash toward the mecha, leap up into the cockpit in a few bounds, and hurriedly shouted: “CAPTAIN, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?”

 

“Leave things here to you for now. I’ll follow and check it out.”

 

---

 

Aboard the Eye of Horus, high-speed airflow flowed past the porthole. If you pressed close to the glass, you could even see the shape of the wind with the naked eye.

 

Bai Ling checked the greenhouse. The hole in the glass had been repaired very securely with not a single leak.

 

Good, keep it up!

 

Bai Ling patted the glass, soothing the porthole’s mood a little, then put on mecha combat suit and boarded the Rattlesnake.

 

He needs to pick up the merman.

 

Meanwhile, Sava was in the central control room and announced over the loudspeaker: “Attention, I will open the leeward hatch in ten seconds. I’ve already confirmed with the Black-winged Kite—he’ll board with his team immediately. You go and come back quickly too.”

 

“Alright. Safe travels.” Bai Ling put on his helmet.

 

“You too.”

 

Rattlesnake emerged from the square hatch, then with a thrust of the throttle, it left a deep blue flame trail across the sky, streaking into the distance like a flash of lightning and a meteor.

 

Target destination: Woodpecker Hospital.

 

“Is everything prepared properly?” Yu Chen turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping backward.

 

The old woodpecker bowed respectfully: “Everything is ready. According to the ‘Transfer Plan,’ we have stocked sufficient medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and experienced medical staff, with complete configurations—enough to build a top-tier Grade A hospital on a barren planet on the spot.”

 

Such meticulous arrangements were not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

 

In fact, the Old Emperor’s “Transfer Plan” could be traced back twenty years. Over those years, every detail of the plan had been polished and revised countless times—and of course, had also gone through countless rejections and failures.

 

Zhuo Liangmu had once thought the plan would be shelved.

 

He never expected that this seemingly impossible plan would still have a day to see the light of day.

 

Zhuo Liangmu couldn’t help but feel excited, as if he’d rediscovered the passion of his youth—inheriting the mantle of Dr. Gatling, shouldering a big gun to physically liberate enemies.

 

Suddenly, the sound of wings cutting through air came from afar.

 

Zhuo Liangmu looked over—it was a mecha with fierce propulsion.

 

They were standing on the terrace. The north wind was fierce, and the turbine at the mecha’s apex stirred up a helicopter-like cyclone overhead.

 

Unexpectedly, Rattlesnake didn’t land directly. It fully demonstrated its high-difficulty skills, hovering steadily in midair. Then, its steel-and-iron finger-claws extended, opening upward so that the tips just touched the terrace wall.

 

In midair, it formed a bridge.

 

On one side of the bridge was the cockpit; on the other, the merman standing in the wind.

 

“Please come aboard.” The mecha’s loudspeaker emitted a cool-toned voice.

 

The strong wind sent his golden hair flying. Yu Chen’s features were incomparably handsome, and he coldly curved his lips in pleasure.

 

“Our captain has arrived.” He teased.

 

Yu Chen took a step toward the void. Instantly, Rattlesnake corrected its angle, precisely rising 10 centimeters, and caught his foot steadily in its palm.

 

Bai Ling looked through the glass, paused for a moment, and cursed inwardly: Cougar.

 

Outside was a blowing wind. This man was wearing a sable fur coat, amber-toned with a hint of grayish blue. When the wind blew, the silvery-white needle-like hairs surged like ocean waves—truly excessively noble.

 

But he was seriously ill, his complexion pale, with a lingering sickliness about him. The fur was only draped loosely over his shoulders; underneath was an ivory-colored shirt, very thin. When the wild wind lifted its hem, one could glimpse the tightly wound gauze around his abdomen.

 

So tight—it made one’s throat tighten just looking at it.

 

This kind of outfit would look excessive on anyone else, but on him it not only complemented him perfectly but inexplicably gave the feeling that even the fur wasn’t quite worthy of him.

 

The long passage of time was the merman’s magnificent pelt.

 

So it was he who complimented the clothes, not the clothes that enhanced him.

 

Bai Ling suddenly found it hard to bear.

 

Originally, according to piloting protocol, the pilot was not allowed to leave the seat while the mecha was midair.

 

But Bai Ling couldn’t help himself—he stood up and ran to the door to wait.

 

The hatch opened. The chill of the night rushed in, and instantly he threw caution to the wind, lunging forward and delivering a bird’s high heat body straight into Yu Chen’s arms.

 

“So passionate.”

 

Yu Chen chuckled, grabbing the bird’s chin and aiming for those slightly parted thin lips, bending down to kiss him.

 

The night was deep and dense; only the mecha cabin glowed with a patch of lamplight. From the terrace’s angle, the old Emperor stood with his back to the hatch door, his tall silhouette blocking all prying eyes.

 

But if you looked closely, you could see a pair of arms wrapped in form-fitting combat gear climbing into that brilliant golden hair, continuously winding and tightening, clinging unbearably to the male’s neck.

 

Zhuo Liangmu’s old face flushed red. He clicked his tongue quietly—these youngsters are too hot and heavy.

 

No wonder The One had to fall.

 

He wanted to watch longer, but the hatch had already closed vertically, locking that intimate reunion scene securely inside.

 

Zhuo Liangmu’s forehead chilled in the wind. He thought of his wife, who had passed early, and couldn’t help feeling desolate. Turning his resentment into grief and indignation, he turned around and kicked his grandson:

 

“Let’s go. Board the ship.”

 

Woodpecker Hospital had been funded and built by The One in the first place. Naturally, wherever the master went, they would follow.

 

---

 

Bai Ling sat back in the pilot’s seat and casually glanced at the windshield—sure enough, his lower lip was swollen.

 

And the culprit was sitting in the co-pilot’s seat, strapped in by two seatbelts, looking exceptionally proper and restrained.

 

…A sanctimonious bastard.

 

Bai Ling curled his lip but said nothing. Since he’d dared to invite a wolf into his house, he wasn’t afraid of the wolf’s designs.

 

He started Rattlesnake. The mecha slowly turned in the air and accelerated back the way they came.

 

“This is the first time someone’s sat in my co-pilot seat.”

 

“Much honored.” Yu Chen let out a low laugh. Leaning against the seat back, his eyes half-closed, he looked utterly relaxed and languid. But when he turned his gaze and casually caught sight of the young female’s body, there was a hint of eager craving—the kind that comes from knowing a flavor too well.

 

Why, in zoos, no matter how docile a lion had been before, once it bit a person, it had to be put down?

 

Because once you’ve tasted that flavor, you’ll think of it day and night…

 

Wanting another bite so badly.

 

Yu Chen tapped the armrest with his knuckles and deliberately changed the subject: “I heard the co-pilot seat is for the commander?”

 

“I don’t need a commander.” Bai Ling kept his eyes forward, closely monitoring the radar data while adjusting the crosswind angle:

 

“I know who to bite in a fight. I don’t need someone sitting next to me, tugging on the chain around my neck and giving random directions.”

 

“True enough. You’re already wearing my little platinum chain.”

 

Bai Ling instinctively glanced down at the pearl chain, then let out a soft snort.

 

Rattlesnake suddenly announced: “Enemy tracking, enemy tracking! Distance 1000 meters, 900 meters, 800 meters—”

 

Bai Ling’s eyes sharpened. He swiftly turned his gaze to the rearview mirror. Enlarged tenfold, a pure black mecha was approaching them at maximum speed.

 

Its paint job was easy to recognize—at a glance, it was clearly a military-issued aircraft.

 

“Damn, we’ve been spotted!” Bai Ling’s nerves tensed involuntarily.

 

If he were alone, there’d be no need for such alarm. But now he had Yu Chen with him—he had to ensure the other’s safety and couldn’t afford the slightest mistake.

 

“Please sit tight, grab the handrail. I’m accelerating.”

 

Yu Chen wasn’t nervous at all. He even had leisure to joke: “You’re like a bus driver speeding through the city center, even reminding your passengers.”

 

Bai Ling raised an eyebrow and floored the accelerator with a cocky flourish: “Beep, senior citizen card.”

 

Yu Chen: “?”

 

Little rascal bird, throwing shade at him.

 

After a couple of jokes, Bai Ling’s nerves relaxed a little, and he quickly shifted into combat mode. He maneuvered Rattlesnake in soaring swoops, pulling tight turns with ease, and finally, with a big U-turn, left the military mecha far behind.

 

“Your skills are excellent.” Yu Chen never stinted on praise for him.

 

Bai Ling gave a light snort and accepted it fully: “Of course. My other skills are pretty great too—you should know that firsthand.”

 

He lightly emphasized firsthand.

 

Yu Chen raised an eyebrow, his expression turning meaningful.

 

The female was teasing him with knowing complicity—verbally going deep and shallow, physically going straight to the point.

 

Yu Chen enjoyed these little adult pleasures.

 

“None of your guard squad or whatever ever piloted a mecha to take you around?” Bai Ling asked, recalling.

 

“They did. But no one dared to be as aggressive as you—flooring it even with me onboard.”

 

“Hmph. Of course. Those people are afraid of losing their jobs. I’m afraid of losing both our lives.”

 

The implication: others were working for their employer; he was picking up his family on the way home.

 

Yu Chen propped up his elbow, rested his jaw in his palm, and began to gaze at him with a soft look.

 

“What are you doing?” Bai Ling glanced at him in between movements, his heart racing from the killer smile.

 

“Admiring you.” Yu Chen casually replied.

 

His gaze traveled downward, following the lines of Bai Ling’s body, savoring every inch without obstruction. At the turns, the driver’s movements shifted greatly. His spine would arch unconsciously, the shoulder blades showing their shape through the thin skin, pressing inward, gathering into a pitifully endearing spinal groove.

 

Yu Chen couldn’t help but wonder: if he pressed his fingers into that groove right now, would it hurt him?

 

The little female had a nice figure. Wearing that open-back combat suit, he was truly a delight to behold.

 

Yu Chen said after careful deliberation: “Next time you use me, you might consider wearing your combat suit. That way, I should considerably resist less.”

 

“You call that resistance?” Bai Ling asked in disbelief. “Get it straight, that’s outright invasion.”

 

Even sitting in his chair now, his pubic bone still ached.

 

Yu Chen laughed lowly: “You led the first half, so I can only count as excessive self-defense.”

 

“Pfft! Old beast, didn’t it feel good for you?”

 

Bai Ling didn’t indulge him at all and spat directly.

 

Rattlesnake: “Enemy reappeared. Distance 900 meters. Please be aware, please be aware!”

 

Bai Ling executed a 180-degree spin, a right-angle climb drawing an impossible zigzag in the air. At the critical moment, his eyes fixed ahead, but from below he fished out a paper bag and tossed it to the side:

 

“Here. Barf bag.”

 

Yu Chen massaged his temples, a little dizzy from the turns. “It’s fine. Even if I throw up now, it’d only be a bunch of liquid medicine.”

 

“Shit.” Bai Ling immediately took a moment to kick his shin. “Sit tight!”

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“If you throw up, I’ll feel bad.”

 

“Feel bad for your mecha?”

 

Bai Ling ground his teeth: “Feel bad for you.”

 

There was silence from the side for a moment. Bai Ling stole a glance, that old bastard had a thoroughly satisfied look on his face, and even his complexion had improved quite a bit.

 

“I really want to kiss you right now. What should I do?” the merman sighed softly.

 

“Just sit tight first, AH—” Bai Ling slammed the throttle forward; the G-force twisted his expression. He snarled, “Once we’re on the ship, you can kiss all you want.”

 

Yu Chen leaned back into his seat, comfortable and content, and replied: “Beep, senior citizen card.”

 

Since he was getting on Little Bird’s ride, of course he had to tap his card proactively.

 

Bai Ling: “?”

 

So cocky? I’ll drain your card one day and show you who’s boss!

 

Just then, that sticky candy-like  military mecha that couldn’t be shaken off appeared again. This time it compressed the distance to a straight 500 meters and began hailing on the radio channel: “I am Military Police serial number 8962. Stop your vehicle immediately and submit to inspection. I repeat—stop your vehicle immediately—”

 

That voice was familiar, as if he’d heard it somewhere.

 

Before Bai Ling could search his memory for a match, a beep sounded on the internal channel. It was the Association Captain requesting access.

 

The Association Captain was quite calm: “That’s Lu Hang. I’ve fought him before. Give me ten minutes—I’ll go take care of him.”

 

Bai Ling pressed the transmit button, frowning: “How exactly are you planning to ‘take care’ of him?”

 

The Captain paused two seconds, then answered: “Kill him.”

 

The author has something to say:

 

The black-cab driver, Little Bird Master, is soliciting business at the train station—

 

“Come on, come on? Just one more seat, we’ll leave right away.”

 

A blonde bombshell with big wavy hair appears, radiating an aura of not being short on cash.

 

In a blur, his luggage is snatched away by the bird.

 

Master Bird forcefully shoves the man into Rattlesnake, slams the door shut with a click, turns around and lifts his chin: “Where we going to? Let’s get this straight—my base fare is thirty.”

 

Yu Chen smiles: “That’s quite a black price. Are your wheels made of gold, or are your windows made of gold?”

 

Bai Ling: “Are you riding or not?!”

 

Yu Chen examines the windows carefully: “Is the soundproofing on this car good?”

 

Bai Ling sneers: “I guarantee you can scream your throat out and no one will come.”

 

Two hours later——

 

“…I’ll give you thirty, okay? Please, just get out, wuwu.”

 

“Still dare to be a black-cab driver?”

 

“But this is my first time! From morning till now I haven’t made a single fare… You’re the only sucker who fell for it.”

 

Yu Chen thoroughly looks at him.

 

Bai Ling leans in and asks: “How about this, I’ll take you for a spin by the seaside, and you let me off?”

 

“Not letting you off.”

 

“Why?!”

 

The old man is unreasonable: “I got tricked.”