55: Chapter 42, Can I Try the Gun?
55: Chapter 42, Can I Try the Gun?
“Princess, the Undying Army is here to escort you home.”
The officers spoke in unison, their solid and loud voices, like a great bell clanging, striking upon the eardrums of everyone present.
Everyone’s eyes widened as they gazed toward Phoenix, this girl with lovely features, her hair neatly tied in a ponytail, wearing faded jeans and a tattered black hoodie—was she a princess?
Was this some kind of idol drama being filmed?
Oh, that industry had long since vanished from the Old Land; there weren’t even small films anymore…
Phoenix, her expression serene, watched the kneeling General and spoke, “General Bai Qi, rise.”
“Thank you, Princess!”
Bai Qi bowed again respectfully, the towering figure over two meters tall, standing head and shoulders above Phoenix.
Yet, this still couldn’t conceal Phoenix’s grace.
Suddenly, the long-legged girl who had followed Tang Fei around scavenging for water and hunting, eagerly eating kebabs, began to shine with a golden light.
She was like the enormous phoenix depicted on a Star Disc, reborn from the flames, radiating brilliant light.
“Everyone else, rise as well,” Phoenix said, her gaze sweeping around.
“Thank you, Princess!”
The crowd answered in chorus.
All the military personnel rose together, their movements coordinated and smooth, without dragging their feet, as if they had practiced in secret countless times.
General Bai Qi looked guilty and said, “Princess, you have suffered.
We deserve death for our crimes.”
Phoenix stared at Bai Qi and asked in an ethereal voice, “It’s been a while since I lost contact with home, hasn’t it?
Why did it take you so long to find me?
Did the navigation fail?
Or was there a problem with the Star Disc’s serial number?”
“Upon learning of the loss of contact between the Princess and the palace, the Emperor was beside himself with worry.
He dispatched our Undying Army, Flame-Bathed Legion, and another major legion of the army to search for the Princess among the ruins.
The enemy set up many traps and illusions, leading us to different places…”
“We couldn’t locate the Princess’s coordinates, had no traceable signals, and so searched over a wide area atop the Old Land…
It was like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Until last night, when we detected traces of a Star Disc taking off from the Henshan Region, we immediately dispatched the Undying Squad to track it…
After intercepting that Star Disc, we conducted a harsh interrogation of the people on board and finally obtained accurate information regarding the Princess…”
“Hearing the Princess was still in the Henshan Gathering Area, we rushed here as soon as possible…
Princess, you aren’t hurt, are you?”
“I’m fine.” Phoenix nodded and, pointing to Tang Fei and Little Fatty, said, “Luckily they were here.
Otherwise, what you might have found would have just been a body.”
“There wouldn’t have been a body,” said Little Fatty, his face flushed with excitement.
“These assassins never leave a body behind.”
Little Fatty was thrilled.
Sister Phoenix turned out to be a Princess…
Big Brother randomly carried back a woman from the wild and she turned out to be a princess—how could they explain this to anyone?
No wonder he felt at first sight that Sister Phoenix was too delicate, unable to hammer at rocks—now it seemed his insight was quite unique.
How could a princess ever hammer at rocks?
In the stories Big Brother told, a Princess was the Emperor’s daughter, a very important person.
Now she couldn’t deny owing Big Brother anything, right?
Big Brother was even concerned that her family couldn’t pay, so he purposely dismantled her escape pod…
He’d heard that the canned meat from New Star was delicious, could he ask her for more canned meat?
“Do you hear that?” Phoenix acknowledged Little Fatty’s words and glanced at General Bai Qi, questioning aloud.
Bai Qi bowed again, apologizing, and said, “General Bai Qi has arrived late for the rescue.
Please forgive us, Princess.”
“Guilt will be determined upon our return,” Phoenix waved her hand dismissively and continued, “At least, you were quicker than the other two search and rescue teams.
For all we know, they might have been led in circles…
Some come for a real rescue, others for a false one.
What do you think, General Bai Qi?”
“Princess, please forgive me.”
Bai Qi couldn’t and didn’t dare respond to this topic.
Indeed, this incident was strange—the Crown Princess of the Phoenix Empire had been betrayed and targeted for assassination by those around her.
Fortunately, she was protected by loyal followers and escaped with her life into an escape pod.
Based on their interrogation of the intercepted Star Disc’s crew, they were assassins dispatched from New Star, intending to leave the Crown Princess buried forever in the ruins.
Who could be so bold to do such a thing?
Had the struggle become this intense?
Even thinking about it made one’s scalp tingle and shudder with fear.
Such matters couldn’t be dwelled upon or pondered too deeply.
He was just a Warrior, meant to expand the Empire’s frontiers; better not to get involved in other affairs.
Phoenix knew Bai Qi wouldn’t carry on the conversation.
These generals, despite their burly appearances, were not lacking in shrewdness.
Her words were merely a gentle prod at him and at those around him with their own agendas.
The Undying Army was one of the Empire’s three elite forces.
Though nominally loyal to the Empire, to the Emperor, how many factions had planted their people within?
Loyalty and treachery were hard to differentiate!
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but think of Tang Fei…
Forget it, Tang Fei was just like them, craftier than needle eyes on a garment.
It was Little Fatty who brought her peace of mind; transparent in thought and action, easy to read.
“Let’s not speak of forgiveness; I am not your judge,” Phoenix shook her head and looked at Bai Qi, “Are we returning now?”
“Yes.” Bai Qi nodded and said, “We’ve already sent the news of finding you back.
The Emperor commands us to safely escort the Princess back in the shortest possible time, without fail.
Princess, would you please come with us?”
Phoenix turned to look at Tang Fei, wanting to say something, yet unsure what should be said.
Will there ever be another day for farewells?
Isn’t that just too trivial?
Is he about to ridicule himself by saying some irrelevant nonsense again?
Wouldn’t adding a ton of supplies be better?
She had followed the Court Lecturer and learned so much about “Speech and Eloquence,” yet she never imagined that she would find herself speechless and at a loss for words.
It was Tang Fei who looked at her with excitement, seemingly hesitant to speak.
Phoenix took delight in her heart and encouraged, “I’m about to leave, if you have something to say…
just say it directly.”
Tang Fei nodded, pointed at the weapons that the soldiers were cradling and asked, “Are those in their arms Pulse Guns?”
Phoenix felt like blasting his damn head off with one shot.
Seeing Phoenix’s unfriendly gaze, Tang Fei immediately became anxious and said, “You’re not going to go back on your word, are you?
We had a clear agreement at the beginning, I asked for a Pulse Gun, and you said you could double it…
and then you doubled it again…
so, I should have at least four Pulse Guns now, right?”
“Bai Qi.” Phoenix called out.
“What orders do you have, Your Highness?” Bai Qi gave Tang Fei a glance and asked.
“Give him four Pulse Guns.” Phoenix said.
“Yes.” Bai Qi waved his hand, and his adjutant ran back to the Star Disc and brought over four brand-new Pulse Guns.
Tang Fei took one, hugged it in his arms and touched it excitedly.
Then he looked at Phoenix and asked, “Can I try the gun?”
Try it however you want, whenever you want.”
Grasping the Pulse Gun, Tang Fei inquired the adjutant about the operating procedure, then aimed at a distant tree and pressed the trigger.
The part of the tree trunk hit directly turned into dust, and then the whole tree crashed down.
This weapon was too powerful.
With such a Pulse Gun, couldn’t he walk sideways on this Old Land?
What’s more fatal was that he had four of them…
“Awesome, this weapon is amazing.” Tang Fei kept praising and even gave Phoenix a thumbs up.
“Tang Fei, I’m leaving now.” Phoenix said.
“Oh, oh…” Tang Fei nodded and said, “Don’t forget what you promised.
I got the Pulse Gun, there’s still the Flying Car and the living supplies…
Little Fatty likes to eat meat, bring more canned meat from your New Star…
That stuff is tasty and easy to store.”
Tang Fei waved his hand and said, “Then go back.
Go back to where you should be.”
Phoenix didn’t want to talk to Tang Fei anymore.
She went over to Little Fatty, patted him on the shoulder and said, “You have to take good care of yourself, understand?”
“Sure, my body is very sturdy.” Little Fatty nodded, smiling naively.
“Don’t let Tang Fei bully you, okay?”
“My brother hasn’t bullied me.” Little Fatty said seriously.
“Safety first at all times.”
“Got it, my brother said, if you can fight, fight; if you can’t, run.”
Phoenix just smiled happily and said, “Right, you should listen to your brother on that.
If you can fight, fight; if you can’t, run.”
“Sister Phoenix, are you a princess?” Little Fatty asked Phoenix.
I am a princess.” Phoenix nodded.
“Is the princess’s house very big?”
“Yes, the princess’s house is very, very big.”
“Does the princess have meat to eat every day?”
“If she wants, the princess can have meat every day.
I didn’t use to like eating meat…
but from now on, I will eat more meat.”
“Mmm, Sister Phoenix should eat more meat.
“You too…” Phoenix looked at Little Fatty’s chubby face and changed what she was about to say, “You are growing, you definitely need to keep up with your nutrition.”
“Take care, Sister Phoenix.”
Phoenix wanted to say goodbye to the old man but found he had disappeared without a trace, not knowing where he hid himself.
So, Phoenix said to Tang Fei, “Say hello to uncle for me…”
“I will.” Tang Fei nodded.
Phoenix took a deep look at Tang Fei and turned to walk towards where the Star Disc was located.
Bai Qi and many senior officers immediately followed behind her, and a large number of soldiers gathered to escort Phoenix in the middle.
Phoenix waved and smiled at the surrounding people, some of whom she had seen, many more she had never met.
From this farewell, would she ever see them again?
It wasn’t clear if it was the effect of Phoenix’s royal status or the imposing presence of the Undying Army, but the stubborn citizens of the Old Land who just now had been standing with faces full of astonishment, staring at Phoenix, knelt down again.