Thank You, Taro

Fu Qinghai sat naked on a metal crate in the lower deck laboratory, traces of un-dried nutrient fluid still clinging to his skin.

Outside the porthole, a tiny, barely perceptible spark continued to bloom on the dim and hazy Planet Roswell VII.

The earth-shattering, hellish scene on the surface looked like nothing more than a small spark from the vantage point of space.

Fu Qinghai withdrew his gaze from the porthole.

Master Kunto stood beside him, his dark red robes concealing the mechanical tentacles that extended to peel away the dense array of sensors stuck to Fu Qinghai's back, forehead, and chest one by one.

"It is done. The newly cultivated Secondary Heart and extra lungs are functioning normally; your body has recovered as it was."

Master Kunto's raspy voice emanated from beneath his hood.

Fu Qinghai stood up, bowed his head slightly, and said:

"Thank you, Master Kunto."

Master Kunto chuckled hoarsely:

"Do not thank me. You should thank your luck; not every Space Marine can face a Helbrute head-on and escape with their life."

It seems the news of me taking down the Helbrute has already reached Master Kunto.

Fu Qinghai nodded and said casually:

"Master, I encountered an interesting Xenomorph on the surface that reproduces by parasitizing animals. It is a pity I could not capture a live specimen, or I would have brought it for you to study."

Master Kunto did not show much interest. As a Biologis and expert on Xenomorphs, he had seen far too many strange alien creatures over the past few centuries of research, most of which held no research value.

He merely nodded noncommittally and said in his raspy voice:

"Heh, in the time past, following the Space Marine Legions on the Great Crusade, I have seen too many aliens. Most pose no threat to the Imperium of Man and are quickly exterminated by the Astartes. Losing a specimen or two is nothing. You have a good heart, little Locke."

"...Master, I have changed my name. I am called Qingshan now."

Fu Qinghai was speechless, thinking to himself that while he might have a good heart, he wished the master would pay a little more attention.

"Oh, oh, very well. My aged and decaying memory reader is no longer up to the task. I shall update the note with your new name immediately."

Fu Qinghai muttered to himself: I fear that in your memory reader, the name marked for me is neither "Locke" nor "Qingshan."

It is likely "Experimental Specimen No. XXX-XX," isn't it?

Fu Qinghai put on simple clothing and bid farewell to Master Kunto:

"Master, as required, I must return to the Sotharan immediately now that my injuries have improved. Farewell, see you again."

"Very well, goodbye, little Locke."

Dressed in a simple robe, Fu Qinghai walked through the corridors back to his personal cabin, where he donned his repaired Power Armor with the assistance of a Servitor.

He then boarded the Stormbird bound for the Sotharan.

Aside from the pilot, he was the only one boarding the Sotharan this time. As soon as Fu Qinghai stepped onto the landing deck, Gult, who had been waiting for some time, hurried over.

"Qingshan, I have been waiting for you. Come with me, the commander wants to see you."

Fu Qinghai nodded, removed his helmet, held it at his side, and followed Gult toward the bridge.

The two passed through the busy bridge, filled with operating crew, staff officers, and Servitors, and headed toward the medical bay behind the bridge.

In the pristine, white medical room, Fu Qinghai saw Set Vlahos lying on a hospital bed.

The Ultramarines captain, who hailed from the Invictarus, looked somewhat listless, his eyes dim. He looked up and said hoarsely:

"You have come, Qingshan."

Fu Qinghai raised his hand in a fist salute:

"Reporting to you, my lord."

"At ease. No need for formalities; I have some things to ask you."

After a pause, Vlahos continued:

"The comprehensive post-battle summary report is out and has been synchronized to the Dagger. Your performance was outstanding, Qingshan. You played a vital role in this battle; without you, many Ultramarines, myself included, would have struggled to return to the ship alive. I am very grateful to Ogedei for sending such an excellent warrior to my side."

Fu Qinghai did not feign modesty, nodding instead:

"Thank you for your praise, my lord."

Vlahos sighed and said:

"I will conduct a review regarding the tactical arrangements for this battle; that is an internal matter. However, before that, I have a question I must confirm with you."

Vlahos looked at Fu Qinghai with a serious expression:

"In those final battles, we saw you fighting side-by-side with an Aeldari. Is that true or not?"

It has come, after all.

Fu Qinghai thought to himself.

Since the beginning of the Great Crusade, the fundamental policy of the Imperium has been that diplomacy is reserved only for other human regimes, and all aliens are to be exterminated.

"Yes, you are correct."

Fu Qinghai nodded and admitted it openly.

It's no use denying it; too many people saw it. He and the Howling Banshee worked together to take down a great many Word Bearers and Helbrutes.

"Sigh."

Set Vlahos sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose with a troubled expression as he said:

"Qingshan, do you know the consequences of doing this? You know full well the Empire's stance on xenos species... You might not yet realize the severity of the problem. Let me tell you something you don't know: Malcador the Sigillite has established two new departments on Terra. One is called the Ordo Malleus, and the other is the Ordo Xenos. The latter is specifically targeted at behavior like yours. They will investigate you, capture you, and then put you on trial."

Fu Qinghai thought to himself that he actually knew all of this, and he even knew that an Ordo Hereticus would be established later, forming the foundation of the three major Inquisitions.

Fu Qinghai spread his hands: "I had no other choice, did I? Everything for victory, Commander. No one knows the situation at the time better than you. How should we win, and how should we survive? Unite all forces that can be united, establish the broadest democratic united front of the people... I mean, adapt to local conditions and act according to circumstances."

He had almost slipped up, but caught himself in time... Fu Qinghai mused: Forgive yourself for being a biochemically enhanced soldier of the future; you lack experience in struggle and don't understand the importance of the great magic weapon that is the united front.

"Besides..." After a pause, Fu Qinghai continued:

"Besides, I'm sure you know in your heart that the Chancellor's new departments are irrelevant—at least in this current period, they are irrelevant. The rebels are besieging Terra; who gives a damn about the xenos?"

"You..." Vlahos was speechless for a moment.

Although the words were crude, they were not without merit. Vlahos knew that everything Fu Qinghai said was the truth.

Seeing that Vlahos was about to speak, Fu Qinghai quickly added:

"Furthermore, I don't believe you specifically called me here just to investigate me."

Having said that, Fu Qinghai blinked.

Vlahos rubbed his brow in resignation. He pondered for a long while before saying:

"...You've said it all. Fine, fine, I admit it. What you said is indeed what I was thinking. We cannot hand over the bravest soldiers who have rendered the greatest service to those damned bureaucratic departments on Terra to be persecuted."

"Then, I announce."

Vlahos raised his head, his expression solemn as he spoke slowly:

"During the battle on Planet Roswell VII, I, and the company under my command, did not see any xenos creatures—I will write this in the report submitted to the superior Chapter and the command staff."

After finishing, Vlahos returned to his lethargic state, waving his hand as he said:

"Alright, return to your squad, Sergeant. My injuries have not fully recovered; during this time, my adjutant will take over command of the Sotharan in my stead."

Set Vlahos, once a composed and spirited member of the Invictarus, now looked utterly exhausted and self-reproachful, appearing so dejected.

Fu Qinghai knew why he was so self-reproachful. Although they had achieved victory in the end, the victory had been so difficult. For a main cruiser to face three transport ships and suffer such a casualty exchange ratio at the hands of the enemy commander was, in itself, a failure.

Clearly, Vlahos had taken all the responsibility for the failure upon himself. He counted every fallen Ultramarine as his own fault, developing a sense of guilt that "an incompetent general kills three armies."

But in truth, Fu Qinghai knew this had nothing to do with Vlahos's command ability. A transmigrator was a variable that no one could have predicted, just like how Vlahos's Primarch, Roboute Guilliman, had repeatedly suffered setbacks when first facing Fulgrim after he had ascended to become a Daemon Prince.

Could one say that Roboute Guilliman's command ability was inferior to Fulgrim's? Guilliman was the most steady and methodical general among all the Primarchs, yet he was repeatedly tricked by Fulgrim. Ultimately, it was not that Guilliman's command ability was inferior to Fulgrim's, but that the methods of the Warp daemons were detached from reality, bizarre, and impossible to predict.

It was less about his physical injuries not having fully recovered; perhaps what prevented Vlahos from continuing to command was more of a psychological injury.

Fu Qinghai turned to leave, but just as he reached the door, he thought for a moment, turned back, and said to Vlahos:

"The most glorious day in a person's life is not the day they achieve fame and success, but the day they challenge life from the depths of lamentation and despair, and bravely step toward their will. These are the words of a writer from my hometown; I hope they can be of help to you, my lord."

Upon hearing this, Vlahos's eyes brightened slightly. He raised his head and nodded:

"Thank you, Qingshan."

1. This quote comes from the French writer Flaubert, but I know it because of the football commentator He Wei.

2. This chapter makes up for yesterday's; there is another chapter coming today.