A Heart Is Not Made of Steel

Ye Zhenwei had been born beautiful, with a delicate appearance but formidable strength. That striking contrast had won her many admirers on the Star Net overnight.

However, because of this, Ye Zhenwei had drawn the attention of various factions, with the Alliance's major pirate groups being the first among them.

The Ye Family and the Alliance's aristocratic families had made such a high-profile display this time that it brought Ye Zhenwei a great deal of trouble—something Tang Yongyu and Ye Yunhan had not anticipated.

After all, the Tianning Star Ye Family had no real foundation on Gaia. Although Ye Zhenwei's talent had already been registered with the Central Brain, which would track her whereabouts at all times to ensure her safety before she had fully grown up, there were still many hidden factions that wanted to get their hands on Ye Zhenwei. A 3S talent—obtaining her meant obtaining a powerful weapon.

After learning that Ye Zhenwei might be in danger, Chris voluntarily took on the role of her guard.

Russell and Felinan joined as well. The Fang Family, meanwhile, sent a daughter around Ye Zhenwei's age to her school to protect her at close range.

The Ye Family's high-profile behavior as soon as they arrived on Gaia also displeased some people. High physical fitness and Mental Power did not necessarily mean one would become powerful after reaching adulthood.

In this world, all strength had to be earned through sweat and hardship.

Both physical fitness and Mental Power needed training to make one's strength more solid. Without exercise or training, the body would tire easily in battle.

Although high-level Mental Power could be used directly as a weapon for attacks, people were not machines, and the body's energy would soon be depleted.

If Mental Power was not used in conjunction with Martial Skills, and one relied on it alone in battle, it could even become exhausted.

There had been precedents for this in the Alliance. Rather than focusing first on improving Ye Zhenwei's strength, the Ye Family was showing off their daughter everywhere. They had better not make complete fools of themselves later.

A 3S talent was indeed astonishing and enviable, provided she could grow up safely.

While the Ye Family basked in glory on Capital Star, Wei Lanshan and Jiujiu had blended into Suo Feihua's fleet and successfully arrived in the Sulaina Star System under new legal identities.

Suo Feihua led her people directly to a sanatorium in Sulaina.

This sanatorium had been established by the Sulaina Star System for retired soldiers, providing postwar rehabilitation and treatment. Its equipment and instruments were highly advanced.

Suo Feihua went to speak with the director, explained her purpose, and asked to borrow an operating room and some equipment, offering payment in return.

After learning her identity, the director agreed. The Sulaina Star System bordered Bright Illumination, and Suo Feihua had a small Starship that regularly docked there and was responsible for Sulaina's security.

When he heard that Suo Feihua's younger sister required surgery, he even thoughtfully asked whether she needed him to apply to the Alliance for a medical doctorate.

After Suo Feihua declined, she arranged for Wei Lanshan to blend into the team escorting Suo Feiyue and head straight to the laboratory.

Afterward, she ordered a lockdown. No one was to come within even half a step of the area for seven days. It was the first time Suo Feihua had resorted to such forceful measures.

After performing a comprehensive examination on Suo Feiyue, Wei Lanshan spent a day determining the treatment plan. Once she had prepared the necessary medicine and other items, she began the surgery.

Fortunately, the sanatorium's surgical assistant robots were highly advanced. Otherwise, Wei Lanshan might not have been able to complete the operation alone.

Six hours later, Wei Lanshan emerged from the laboratory. Seeing her expression, the joy on Suo Feihua's face instantly deepened, light glimmering at the corners of her eyes.

Jiujiu had been quietly behaving herself at Suo Feihua's side. When she saw the exhausted Wei Lanshan emerge from the laboratory, she felt respect for the woman for the first time.

Putting aside the question of her own origins, Wei Lanshan was truly skilled and rigorous in medicine, and she always gave her all when saving people.

Suo Feihua stepped forward to thank her. "Thank you, Doctor Wei."

"You're too polite, Leader Feihua. This is a transaction between us. You resolved my worries, and I resolved a matter weighing on your heart. We're even." Wei Lanshan's tone was calm and unconcerned.

She had performed many surgeries like this and restored health to many people. It was simply her duty.

After giving instructions on several precautions, Wei Lanshan took Jiujiu back to Suo Feihua's Starship, intending to get some proper rest.

"Jiujiu, after we leave Sulaina, we'll go to Muye Star first and get you a legal ID there."

For people in the Alliance, the Central Brain issued an ID during the embryonic stage based on the parents' basic information.

After the child was born, it would be implanted in their wrist. After the age of five, they could apply for a terminal. Shopping, accessing the Star Net, attending school, traveling after growing up—one needed this ID to move about within the Alliance.

Jiujiu had not been born from a normal marriage, so she would not have an Alliance ID.

Wei Lanshan had already made plans. They would go to Muye, a tourist star system, where there was an ID trading market. Jiujiu's identity would be settled there.

"Okay, Aunt Lan. Get some good rest first. I'll stay right here and won't go anywhere, so don't worry." Jiujiu brought Wei Lanshan water and Nutrient Paste. After setting them down, she closed the door to Wei Lanshan's rest room.

She then sat alone by the window in the room, looking out at the endless darkness. In the tranquil space, Jiujiu felt lost for the first time.

She could be fragile too. Hugging her knees, Jiujiu thought about everything that had happened since coming here.

She had endured the pain of the experiments and survived through sheer tenacity. She had fled alongside Wei Lanshan all the way here. Though they were safe now, the future was an even greater unknown.

This world was dazzling and vast, filled with countless legends but also countless dangers. The confusion rising in her heart made her let her thoughts wander freely for the first time since arriving here.

When Wei Lanshan woke, she sensed a trace of sadness lingering in the room with her Mental Power, and she sighed inwardly.

Wei Lanshan walked over to Jiujiu and bent down to pick her up.

"What's wrong? Why are you so sad at such a young age?" Wei Lanshan looked into Jiujiu's eyes and found them glistening with moisture.

"Aunt Lan, are people born alone?" Jiujiu thought the person before her was wise enough that perhaps she could find an answer from her.

"Yes." Wei Lanshan had not expected Jiujiu to ask such a question. At her age, it was something even adults rarely considered.

"The world is so vast, yet I've become afraid." Jiujiu buried her head against Wei Lanshan's shoulder, her voice somewhat low.

Wei Lanshan was not used to being so close to others, but Jiujiu's soft little body made her feel warmth.

"Being afraid is normal. That is why you must become strong—strong enough to fear nothing, strong enough to face every storm."

Wei Lanshan knew that a mature soul resided within that tiny body, so during this period, she had interacted with Jiujiu as she would with an adult.

Wei Lanshan told Jiujiu many things about the Alliance, hoping that from now on, she would be able to face things on her own. There were too many storms and hardships in this starfield.

Jiujiu had understood this truth in her previous life. But having to go through the hardship of walking alone once more... her heart was not made of steel.

Jiujiu stayed quietly in Wei Lanshan's embrace for several minutes. After letting out a long sigh in her heart, she gathered away all her worries and sorrow.

It was nothing more than walking the path of her previous life alone once again. This time, her talent would make things much easier—but also much harder. After all, in this world, she was a baby through and through.

Having thought it through, Jiujiu decided that she would indulge her weakness this one time only. She would never allow herself to be like this again.

"Thank you, Aunt Lan. Thank you for everything you've done for me." Jiujiu thanked her. Her voice was still somewhat subdued, but she had clearly recovered.

Wei Lanshan also breathed a sigh of relief. Jiujiu always recovered quickly. She knew that with Jiujiu's temperament, the hardships ahead would not defeat her. She might feel lost at times, just as she had moments ago, but in the end, she would choose to move forward rather than retreat.

She gently stroked Jiujiu's back and decided that once they reached Muye Star, she would take her out to have some fun. Let her see more beautiful things and relax properly; perhaps then her heart would feel lighter.

After they had spent seven days aboard Suo Feihua's Starship, Suo Feihua's younger sister, Suo Feiyue, woke up and recovered well.