That One Has Returned

After a few seconds of stillness, Nie Chang suddenly stood up, the chair sliding backward with a screeching sound due to the sudden movement, but he was completely unaware.

His eyes widened as he stared intently at the figure in the doorway, exclaiming in disbelief, "Principal? What... how did you get here?"

Seeing his old subordinate's loss of composure, Lin Yi smiled slightly.

He gently closed the door behind him, shutting out the sounds from outside.

"I've come back to visit. Old Nie, have a seat."

Nie Chang took several deep breaths to barely suppress the turmoil in his heart, and slowly sat back down in his chair, but his gaze remained firmly fixed on Lin Yi, as if afraid that he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

"You came back to visit? When did you come back? Why haven't we heard anything? Does the higher-ups know?"

He fired off a barrage of questions, clearly still reeling from this sudden "attack."

"I just arrived recently. I'm just taking a look around privately; it's confidential for now."

Lin Yi walked to the chair opposite the desk and sat down, his gaze sweeping over the pile of documents and the fallen electronic pen on the table. "It seems that the affairs of the military academy are more demanding than before."

Nie Chang then realized his lapse in composure, quickly picked up his electronic pen, and cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly. "Ah, yes, the third batch of reserve members is about to depart, and there's so much to do."

He paused, looking at Lin Yi with a complicated expression, "Is there something important that you've come back for?"

"Nothing special, I just wanted to come back and see for myself."

Lin Yi smiled, then changed the subject, "Old Nie, I remember you have a habit of hiding some good stuff?"

His gaze drifted meaningfully to an inconspicuous little cabinet under Nie Chang's desk.

Nie Chang was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head.

He bent down helplessly and took out a small, flat metal flask from the cabinet; it had no label on it.

"This is all the old liquor left. I was saving it to secretly celebrate after these kids set off safely."

"Perfect timing," Lin Yi said with a smile. "The night is long, shall we chat? There are some things I'd like to hear your thoughts on."

Without hesitation, Nie Chang took out two clean small metal cups and filled them.

The two clinked glasses lightly and drank it all in one gulp.

"Tell me," Lin Yi put down his cup. "For nearly a century, you've watched Blue Star and the Silver Blue Community grow to where we are today. In your opinion, what's our newly launched starship like? Good and bad, I'd like to hear it all."

Nie Chang held his wine glass, pondered for a moment, and slowly spoke:

"Overall, it's on an upward trajectory with tremendous momentum, that's undeniable. The Starsea Cradle has invigorated us, new technologies are constantly being introduced, and the vision and courage of its young people far surpass what we had back then. The fact that East Peak Military Academy can attract the most outstanding talents in the entire civilization is proof of this."

Nie Chang first affirmed the achievements.

"But."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more serious, "There are indeed quite a few problems, and many of them are things we've never encountered before."

"Leaving aside external pressures, some 'friends' from Xinghai really don't respect us locals. They act erratically, and sometimes the authorities... sigh, for the sake of the bigger picture, we've been too tolerant, and the people below are resentful," Nie Chang sighed.

"It's more complex internally."

He counted on his fingers, "Culturally, some young people are obsessed with alien things, wishing they could dye themselves into the Spirit Race, while quickly discarding the traditions of our ancestors. Economically, subsidies are a good policy, but some people exploit loopholes, treating children as cash cows, and unscrupulous merchants inflate prices, turning a good policy into a distorted one! The social atmosphere is also somewhat restless, with comparisons and vanity, especially among certain individuals."

He paused, without naming names directly, "Relying on their family connections, they act arrogantly and set a bad example."

Then, Nie Chang took a big gulp of wine and continued, "Management is in a tough spot too! They're moving too fast, and many systems can't keep up, leaving numerous loopholes. They want to manage, but sometimes they're afraid of stifling innovation. If they don't manage, chaos will ensue."

"Our military academy is considered to have the best atmosphere, but it's not a vacuum; some of the bad influences from outside inevitably seep in."

Lin Yi listened quietly without interrupting.

What Nie Chang said corroborated what he had seen and heard today, making it more specific and profound.

"But."

After recounting a series of grievances, Nie Chang's tone became firm again, "I believe this is just growing pains! The general direction is correct, and the foundation is solid. Look at these kids at the military academy; most of them are excellent, hardworking, idealistic, and know why they're fighting. The authorities are also gradually adjusting their policies and cracking down on illegal activities. It just takes time, and it also needs a helmsman to stabilize the course."

As he spoke, he looked at Lin Yi with intense gaze. "In the end, the backbone of a civilization cannot be upheld by praising some alien race. Ultimately, it must be built by our own hard work, one punch at a time, and by generations of people working diligently and steadily!"

Lin Yi nodded. Nie Chang's views were very pertinent, showing both concern and confidence, as well as a clear-headed understanding rooted in reality.

He then talked with Nie Chang about the specifics of the military academy, the qualities of the prospective members, and the challenges they might face in the future.

Finally, Lin Yi said, "This time, I will return to the East Peak Mercenary Group with the third batch of reserve members."

Upon hearing this, Nie Chang was taken aback at first, then laughed and said, "Great! Great! This is an incredible surprise for those kids. With you on the ship, their journey will be completely different."

He could almost see how excited and thrilled those young people would be when they heard the news.

They chatted for a while longer, and then the wine in the pot was all gone.

Lin Yi stood up. "It's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer. I should go back."

"Are you going home?" Nie Chang also stood up. "And your whereabouts?"

"Yes, I've seen what I needed to see and heard what I needed to hear. I'll go back and check on things. As for my whereabouts, now that I've come to see you, I don't intend to hide anything anymore," Lin Yi said frankly.

Nie Chang understood, "Understood. But don't worry, I won't let any unnecessary information get out."

Lin Yi smiled, patted Nie Chang on the shoulder, his figure slightly blurred, and disappeared from the office in the next moment, as if he had never been there.

Nie Chang stood there, feeling the lingering sensation on his shoulder, then looked at the empty wine glass and the empty chair opposite him, let out a long sigh of relief, and showed the most hearty smile he had shown in years.

Lin Yi's figure had already appeared in a quiet courtyard not far from the East Peak Military Academy.

This was the residence that Wenming had arranged for him, but he actually spent very few days living here.

The courtyard maintained its simple and elegant style, but the security measures around it were much tighter than before. Of course, with Lin Yi's deliberate concealment and Xuanji's cooperation, these defenses were practically useless to him.

Soon, Lin Yi pushed open the unlocked front door and went inside.

In the living room, Lin Ruiming, the father, and Zhou Jinghua, the mother, were sitting on a comfortable sofa, engrossed in watching a currently popular interstellar family drama.

Sitting beside her mother, watching the film with her and occasionally whispering a few words about the plot, with cut fruit beside her, was Ye Qingyu.

Ye Qingyu seemed to be exceptionally sensitive to sounds, being the first to notice the movement at the door and instinctively turning her head to look.

Immediately, she froze as if struck by Immobilization Spell, and the fruit fork she was about to hand to Zhou Jinghua landed with a soft "clink" on the crystal coffee table.

The noise startled Lin Ruiming and Zhou Jinghua.

"Qingyu, what's wrong?" Zhou Jinghua asked with concern, following Ye Qingyu's blank gaze toward the door.

The next moment.

"Xiao Yi?" Zhou Jinghua suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening, and tears welled up uncontrollably.

Lin Ruiming was also startled, the smart controller slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. He stood up abruptly, looked at the familiar face with a gentle smile at the door, his lips trembling, too excited to speak for a moment.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

Lin Yi walked into the living room, took the initiative to hug his emotional mother, and then squeezed his father's hand tightly.

"You silly child! Why didn't you tell me you were coming back!"

Zhou Jinghua held Lin Yi's hand and looked him up and down.

Lin Ruiming calmed himself down and said repeatedly, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

Lin Yi explained with a smile, "Nothing special, just came back to visit."

Then, his gaze shifted to Ye Qingyu, who had already stood up, her face filled with excitement yet striving to maintain a composed smile. He nodded Ye Qingyu, "Qingyu, long time no see."

"Yes, it's been a long time."

Ye Qingyu's voice trembled slightly, but she tried to make her smile more natural. "My aunt and uncle like having someone to talk to."

Lin Yi smiled, as if remembering something, and a delicate little box appeared out of thin air in his hand. He handed it to Ye Qingyu: "I passed by a small market of the Spirit Race and saw this. I thought it would suit you perfectly. It's a little trinket."

Ye Qingyu was slightly taken aback, then a blush appeared on her face. She accepted the gift with both hands and said softly, "Thank you."

She didn't open it on the spot, but held it carefully in her hand.

Lin Ruiming smiled as he watched this scene, but then remembered something more important. He said to his personal terminal, "Contact Lin Yao for me!"

Ye Qingyu was a clever and perceptive woman. Seeing this scene, she knew that the Lin Family would definitely have an internal discussion next, and it would be inappropriate for her to be an outsider present.

She hesitated for a moment, then took the initiative to say, "Uncle, Aunt, your family has finally reunited, you must have a lot to talk about, so I won't disturb you any longer, I'll head back now."

Zhou Jinghua was a little reluctant and was about to ask him to stay, but Lin Yi spoke first. He glanced at Ye Qingyu and nodded. "Alright, today was indeed a bit sudden. Be careful on the road."

After all, he would inevitably have to reprimand his younger siblings later, and with Ye Qingyu present, it would be even more embarrassing for both Lin Xuan and Lin Yao.

"I'll see Qingyu out," Zhou Jinghua said quickly, taking Ye Qingyu's hand as the two walked out of the living room together.

Meanwhile, inside the most upscale "Source Star Clubhouse" in Helu City, a "Yuan Energy Micro-Control Skills Salon"—limited to exceptionally talented young people and their close friends in the industry—was taking place to elegant and soothing music.

Lin Yao, dressed in an elegant yet stylish preppy-style long dress, sat in the crowd, a perfectly measured smile on her lips, listening to the insights shared by the son of a representative from a trade alliance.

Next, it was her turn to demonstrate a new technique she had recently developed for creating light and shadow effects.

Just then, her beautifully designed personal terminal on her wrist vibrated slightly, displaying that it was her father, Lin Ruiming.

Without thinking much, she answered the call directly.

Immediately, Lin Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and she stood up abruptly, apologizing to those around her, "Excuse me, everyone, there's an emergency at home that requires me to go back immediately."

Sitting diagonally opposite her, a young woman from a mining guild family who had always been secretly competing with her, smiled slightly upon hearing this and said in a cryptic tone:

"Yaoyao, if you're not fully prepared yet, it's okay to demonstrate next time. It's just a shame if you miss the feedback from the later participants."

Lin Yao paused, slightly annoyed, but maintained her perfect smile, though her tone became a bit harsher. "Thank you for your trouble. The techniques are ready, but... my brother is back and waiting at home, so I'm sorry."

"Your brother?" The woman was taken aback.

The salon fell silent for a moment, and all eyes were on Lin Yao.

Everyone present was from an ordinary background, so they naturally knew who Lin Yao was referring to as "brother".

The people behind her who were about to present immediately realized what was happening and quickly said:

"It's alright, it's alright, Miss Lin Yao, you should go back now!"

"The most important tips for family reunions can be shown anytime."

"Yes, let's go back quickly, don't keep His Excellency the Commander waiting."

Sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Lin Yao nodded gracefully to everyone again before turning and hurriedly leaving.

Meanwhile, on the other side, at a closed extreme racing track on the outskirts of the city, a nighttime race that sent adrenaline soaring had just ended.

Lin Xuan jumped out of his brightly painted, anti-gravity flying car, took the drink handed to him by his henchman, and shouted triumphantly to his group of equally hip-hop-clad, flamboyant friends, "Let's go! At the Summit of Stars, we'll drink until we drop tonight!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Just then, Lin Xuan's customized terminal rang. He glanced at it, and a hint of impatience flashed across his face.

He answered the phone casually, his tone dismissive. "Hey, Dad, I'm celebrating with some friends right now. We made plans, I'll be back in a bit."

"What are you celebrating! Get back here right now!" Lin Ruiming's voice was stern on the other end of the terminal.

Lin Xuan frowned, his tone sharpening. "I already said I'd be back soon! What's the rush?"

Lin Ruiming seemed too lazy to waste any more words with him and interrupted him directly, "Your brother is back."

Lin Xuan subconsciously replied, with a hint of annoyance, "What's Lin Ran doing here at this hour?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The father said "You're back," not "You've arrived."

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and his voice trembled. "Dad! Who are you talking about? My brother? Not Lin Ran, right?"

The playboys who had been laughing and joking around, waiting for Lin Xuan to finish his call so they could go have a blast, all fell silent the moment they heard Lin Xuan's sudden change in tone and his terrified question.

They knew all too well that Lin Xuan only had two people he could call "brother".

One is Lin Ran, the daughter of the vice mayor; the other is... that one!

Just then, another voice came from the communicator in Lin Xuan's hand.

"Come back soon. But don't rush, be careful, and don't speed."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was clearly transmitted through the terminal to the ears of the spoiled brat who was listening intently nearby.

These people instantly turned pale, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly spoke into the terminal, his tone unusually obedient. "I know, I know, brother! I'll be right back, I promise I won't speed."

He almost frantically hung up the call.

The spoiled brats who were just clamoring to go partying now looked dejected and cautiously approached.

"Brother Xuanxuan, then, then you should go back quickly."

"Yes, yes, business is important, hehe, business is important."

"We... we... we're planning to go back too."

Lin Xuan had no time to care about them. He waved his hand haphazardly, jumped into his car, and this time he properly started the stable mode and drove towards his home. He was fast, but he dared not be ostentatious in the slightest.

Almost immediately after Lin Yao stepped out of the salon and Lin Xuan started the flying car, the personal terminals on their wrists began to flash at an unusual frequency.

After the initial shock, their respective "friends" immediately relayed this momentous news, which was enough to impact the entire Blue Star, back to their families or the forces behind them.

The woman who didn't get along with Lin Yao immediately left the lobby after the salon atmosphere returned to normal, using the excuse of touching up her makeup. She hid in the lounge and whispered urgently into her encrypted communicator:

"Father! Lin Yi, it's Lin Yi back! Lin Yao just told me herself, he was summoned home by a communicator! Yes, that's the one! The news is absolutely true."

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan's communications were almost completely disrupted shortly after he left the racing area.

One of his closest playboy friends sent a voice message, his voice trembling with tears. "Brother Xuan! No, Master Xuan. My dad just gave me a good scolding, telling me to stay away from you in the future—no, he told me to behave myself in front of you. Your older brother is back, why didn't you give us a heads-up? We're in deep trouble now."

Another member of the family, whose business involved trading in Source Energy Crystal, sent a message in an unusually formal tone, clearly out of character. "Brother Lin Xuan, my father just called urgently, instructing me to convey his sincerest greetings to you and your brother. Also, if possible, my father hopes to have the opportunity to visit your brother."

These playboys who only know how to eat, drink, and have fun may not be very clear-headed, but the families behind them are able to establish themselves in the Star Sea, and their sense of smell is more and more acute than the last.

The news of Lin Yi's sudden return quickly stirred up the undercurrents of the upper echelons of Blue Star society.