Leaving

Chapter 11: Departure

Early morning. Since it was summer, the sky had brightened early, and rays of sunlight streamed through the window into the dormitory.

Yi Chen shook his somewhat groggy head as he got out of bed. After washing up, he headed toward the training ground to assemble. But just as he stepped out the door, he saw Yan leaning against the corridor wall.

She had already changed back into her battle armor. On her delicate face, a pair of crystal-bright eyes sparkled like stars, clear and pure, with the corners of her mouth slightly lifted.

Yan turned around and looked at the slightly dazed Yi Chen, asking: "Have you made up your mind? Are you coming with me or not?"

Yi Chen snapped back to reality at the sound of Yan's voice. After a brief pause, he said: "I've decided. But if you're taking me away, you have to at least tell me what I'll be doing!"

"You'll find out once you go. Since you've made your choice, get ready. If there's nothing else, we can set out as early as possible."

"Alright, I don't have anything to pack. I'll go say goodbye, and then we'll leave."

"Good. Go ahead."

On the training ground, Liu Chuang and the others were discussing something.

"Hey, Brother Chen's here. Let's ask him." Liu Chuang said suddenly as he saw Yi Chen approaching, then he and Ge Xiaolun and Zhao Xin crowded around Yi Chen.

"Hey hey, Brother Chen, who's that big sister?" Liu Chuang asked.

"Yeah, Brother Chen, who's that girl? I saw her coming out of your room this morning. You two weren't... last night, were you?" Zhao Xin said, finishing with an expression everyone understood.

Hearing Zhao Xin's words, even the girls couldn't hold back and pricked up their ears.

Yi Chen didn't answer. Instead, he said seriously to everyone: "Everyone, I'll be leaving for a while."

"Huh?" Everyone except Lena was confused, not understanding what he meant.

"Yi Chen, you're joking, right? Why so sudden..." Cheng Yaowen, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"Sorry, everyone. I have my own plans. But don't worry—no matter what, we're comrades. We still have to defend Earth together. I'm only leaving temporarily. I'll come back. When we meet again, don't let me see that you haven't improved at all!"

With that, Yi Chen said nothing more. A rare smile appeared on his face, but it was somewhat forced. In truth, he felt awful inside. After training together for so long, they had built bonds. Leaving suddenly weighed heavily on his heart.

"Then, Yi Chen, where are you going? When will we see each other again?"

Cheng Yaowen pressed on, but Yi Chen didn't answer. He himself didn't know when he'd return.

Yan arrived at the training ground at that moment. She walked over, but not quickly, as if deliberately giving them more time. Still, the distance was short, and she soon reached them. She smiled at Yi Chen and said: "Kid, ready?"

Yi Chen didn't speak. He took a long, deep look at everyone.

He didn't know when he'd see them again after this parting. He didn't know if, when they next met, things would be the same as before. He didn't know if, when they next met, everyone would still be here...

After a moment, Yi Chen turned to Yan and said: "Alright, let's go." His voice was a little low. With that, he turned and left with Yan.

"Kid, like you said, it's not like they're never letting you come back. Don't be so sad. Besides... not many people get to spend time with a beautiful Angel." Yan said, half teasing and half comforting, seeing Yi Chen's low spirits.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll know when we get there."

With that, Yan took out her Interstellar Glider, stepped onto it first, then waved at Yi Chen.

"Come on up!"

Yi Chen didn't hesitate. He stepped onto it directly. Once he was seated, the glider started up, began to rise, and then... vanished into the sky.

On the ground, the atmosphere turned oppressive after Yi Chen left. Seeing everyone's low spirits, Lena said comfortingly: "Cheer up. Yi Chen said he'd be back. You all need to train even harder now, so you won't be looked down on when you meet again."

"Alright, line up. We'll reorganize the teams. Me, Ge Xiaolun, Zhao Xin, Qi Lin—Group A. Chen Yaowen, Qiang Wei, Rui Mengmeng, Liu Chuang—Group B. Training begins now."

Inside the Giant Gorge Ship, Du Kao and Lian Feng were monitoring Yi Chen and Yan's position through the Denuo 3. Seeing that they had already left Earth, they breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Commander, I don't understand. Why does that Angel insist on taking Yi Chen away? His genes are powerful, but surely not enough to catch an Angel's interest!" Lian Feng suddenly spoke up.

"I don't understand either. An Angel's thoughts are hard for us to fathom. Perhaps there's an even greater secret hidden inside him that we lack the ability to uncover. But for now, that's not important. What matters most is quickly training the Xiong Bing Lian so we can establish a foothold on Earth." Du Kao said.

"Mm. Then I'll get back to work."

"Go ahead."

After Lian Feng left, Du Kao went to a laboratory. As soon as he entered, he fixed his gaze on a glass apparatus in the center of the lab, which contained a blood sample from Chen Yi.

Looking at the contents, Du Kao couldn't help but sigh.

"Perhaps you'll find greater help there. Good luck."

Du Kao stood there silently, his mind wandering with unknown thoughts.

(End of chapter)

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