After leaving the black market, Wei Lanshan held 99's hand the entire way until they boarded the spacecraft, her palm slightly damp.
She was clearly nervous. She kept her head slightly lowered the whole way, her Mental Power enveloping both herself and 99. Whenever someone's gaze brushed over her, she would swiftly look toward its source, only lowering her head again after confirming there was no threat.
Only after the spacecraft left the spaceport of Tianning Star Second Guard did Wei Lanshan finally let out a sigh of relief.
The spacecraft accelerated away from the Tianning Star System, heading toward a planet unknown to 99.
Everything here was unknown to 99. It was a new beginning, a true journey into the Starry Sea.
Countless spacecraft traveled through the endless starry sky. 99 stared out the window, her mouth hanging wide open.
Although she had already taken one journey through space, she still had not recovered from her amazement.
Those enormous dark celestial bodies floating in space should be Tianning Star's five moons. And that larger, more magnificent celestial body must be Tianning Star itself.
This place was so vast and magnificent. As long as she escaped Tang Yongyu and the Ye Family's pursuit, even more wondrous journeys awaited her.
99 gazed at the boundless starry sky with delight. Her favorite saying from her previous life had become what she was experiencing now—our journey is the Starry Sea.
But that person... she had lost him forever.
Wei Lanshan had already removed her hood. Their cabin was sealed, invisible from the outside and completely soundproof.
After thinking quietly for five minutes, she spoke to 99. "99, I told you before that I would send you somewhere safe to live. We are on our way there now. We will encounter many difficulties along the way, so you must stay close to me."
99 nodded. "Don't worry, Doctor Wei. I definitely won't cause you trouble along the way."
"That place is the farthest from Tianning Star. You will live and attend school there from now on. Until you have the strength to protect yourself, do not return to Tianning Star. Stay away from anyone from the Ye Family or the Tang Family if you encounter them. Do you understand?"
"Okay. I'll be careful."
Wei Lanshan knew that 99 could understand all of this. Her intelligence was exceptionally high, and her way of thinking was different from others'.
A child would not consider the things she considered. Her Mental Power fluctuations were also strong, but she concealed them well.
Back in the laboratory, Wei Lanshan had nearly been fooled by her. The way 99 acted cute and coquettish around Sixi made her look nothing like an adult.
Anyone who saw her would probably think the child was so adorable and innocent that they would want to cherish her even more.
She was far steadier than children her age. Wei Lanshan already thought five points more highly of her just for the courage she had shown in enduring the pain of the experiments.
Wei Lanshan felt that even she would have found it difficult to endure, yet 99 had not only survived it, but had no gloom on her face. Her eyes remained full of smiles as she happily went on living.
She had seen how Subjects 95 through 98 had behaved. Unable to bear the pain, they cried all day until their throats became hoarse, struggling fiercely as well. Children only a few years old would never cooperate obediently, which made 99's abnormality especially obvious.
For those reasons alone, Wei Lanshan could not possibly treat her as a child.
"Also, change how you address me from now on. In private, call me Aunt Lan. When others are around, call me Mom. Our public identities throughout this journey will be mother and daughter," Wei Lanshan instructed.
99 raised her brows. She had just arrived in the interstellar era, had not even made a name for herself yet, and already had a mother with absurd combat strength who could fly spacecraft and do all sorts of impressive things!
Fine, Mom it is. Wei Lanshan must be at least sixty, by her estimate. Calling her Mom wasn't a loss. She might as well cling to this thigh.
Besides, Wei Lanshan had created her. In a sense, didn't that make her half a mother?
"Okay, Mom." 99 called sweetly.
Wei Lanshan pressed her lips together. The child's voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of sweetness that stirred her barren heart. She felt a little at a loss, and even a little happy.
"Mm. You also need a name. For now, you'll be called Jiujiu."
"Sure." She had no intention of using her name from her previous life again. Death marked a new beginning. She was no longer the person she had been in her previous life.
Her name, her surname, and that person had all vanished into time and space. She could neither find nor seek them. She and he were no longer in the same universe. She only wished for his lasting peace and happiness.
99 had changed her name. She was called Jiujiu.
Before you continue