You Think You're Something Special!

BX10081 Star System, Storm Port Spacecraft Dock.

The silver-white spaceport hovered in the pitch-black void. Its enormous Energy Shield glowed with a pale blue halo, keeping passing starships and cosmic dust at bay.

Liu Hui stood on the platform at the dock, his face weathered and worn. A few strands of white hair had even appeared at his temples. Close behind him was a timid little girl clutching the hem of his clothes, while his other hand was held by a woman with a haggard face but gentle eyes.

The three of them gazed at the futuristic construct before them, their eyes filled with emotion and exhaustion.

It had taken him two and a half years to get here.

Ten thousand light-years! One light-year was equal to 9.46 trillion kilometers. A journey spanning ten thousand light-years was enough to daunt almost anyone.

Liu Hui remembered clearly that it had taken him half a month just to find a relatively safe route. The journey involved tourist ships, cargo ships, and even interstellar buses, with transfers across more than a dozen star systems. Every step came with unknown risks.

But he had still emptied his savings without hesitation and set out with his wife and daughter.

Over those two and a half years, they had faced threats and scams from aliens who waved fake "interstellar travel permits" and demanded exorbitant fees. They had endured a sudden magnetic storm that nearly crippled their spacecraft's power system, leaving them drifting through the dark void for three days and nights.

They had even felt the gravitational pull of a black hole up close. The ship's hull had warped under an invisible force, and they had nearly been lost forever in the cosmic abyss. Then there were the Star Pirates who had occupied the shipping lanes, boarding their vessel with energy weapons to search it. Liu Hui had shielded his wife and daughter with his own body, barely getting them through the ordeal.

Countless times, late at night in the cabin of their spacecraft, Liu Hui had asked himself: why had he traveled such a vast distance to come to this unfamiliar star system?

He remembered being eighteen, fresh out of high school, brimming with confidence as he swore to the stars that he would carve out a place of his own. At twenty-four, after graduating from university, he had gone from one recruitment center to another with his résumé in hand, his eyes full of hope for the future.

But now, in his thirties, he was merely an ordinary Planetary Rank martial artist. A casual punch from him could pack dozens of tons of force. It sounded impressive, yet he couldn't even withstand the crushing weight of everyday life.

The few Silver Blue Coins he earned each month had to cover his mortgage and airship loan, medicine for his sick parents, his child's education, and all the food, clothes, and other necessities his family needed. There was barely anything left by the end of each month.

More than a decade of getting knocked around by society had long since worn down his edge.

He finally understood that he was just an ordinary person. He might spend the rest of his life in quiet mediocrity, and his child might remain trapped at the bottom too, having the value of her labor extracted by those above her for generations to come.

They were allowed to live only because they still had "value to exploit."

Then came news from his good friend, Tang Ping.

The first time, Tang Ping told him he had become governor of the BX10081 Star System and invited him to come, promising to look after him. Liu Hui hesitated.

The second time, Tang Ping had advanced to Star Rank and sent him another message. His tone was just as confident, but Liu Hui still hadn't dared to make a move.

Should he settle for the status quo and let his child repeat his life? Or take a gamble and fight for a bright future for her?

The day he changed his mind, he saw his young daughter lying in front of a screen, gazing longingly at a news report. A little girl on another planet was eating treasures infused with Origin Force, wearing a gorgeous Origin Force Battle Suit, and flying freely between the stars.

His daughter asked him softly, "Daddy, when can we go play in space too?"

In that moment, Liu Hui finally understood.

"People die sooner or later! Why waste your life sleeping when you'll lie still forever after you're dead?" he told himself. "If I don't do something I truly want while I'm still young and have the energy, I'll regret it when I close my eyes for the last time."

This short life would end eventually. He might as well be bold: love someone, climb a mountain, chase a dream!

He'd go all in!

Over those two and a half years, he had wanted to give up countless times, to take his wife and daughter home, or even to message Tang Ping and beg for help. But whenever he saw the look of anticipation in his daughter's eyes and his wife's quiet support, he gritted his teeth and pressed on.

Now, they had finally reached their destination.

But when he looked at the vast star system before him and saw that it had nothing but this one lonely spaceport, his heart sank.

How many opportunities could a spaceport this small offer? Tang Ping was only an ordinary son-in-law of the Luo Family. What kind of job could he possibly arrange for him?

"Did he trick me?" he wondered, unable to stop himself from sighing. He took his bewildered wife and daughter by the hand and slowly walked forward.

"We're already here, so I hope he doesn't screw me over too badly," Liu Hui thought to himself. "I'm a Planetary Rank martial artist, at least. He can surely set me up with a steady mining job, right? I'll get extra insurance, too. That'll give my wife and daughter some security."

Just then, a flash of deep blue light appeared, and Tang Ping materialized in front of him. With a familiar smile on his face, he punched Liu Hui in the chest before he could react.

"You finally made it! Why didn't you tell me you were on your way? It must've been rough. If you'd told me earlier, I would've sent someone to pick you up!" Tang Ping's voice was full of laughter, but there was a hint of concern beneath it.

Liu Hui's eyes turned red at once. The grievances and exhaustion he had bottled up for two years burst out all at once. He punched Tang Ping back, his voice choked with emotion. "You weren't trying to screw me over, were you? Why didn't you tell me this dump doesn't even have a habitable planet?

"You think you're so great, so noble! And now you hit me the moment we meet! Great, just great! You tricked me into coming all the way here. Did you ever think about what I've been through these past few years? I got scammed, bullied, and nearly killed!"

Tang Ping slung an arm around his shoulders and patted his back, his tone softening. "Cut the crap! You're the one who was too proud to tell me you were coming! Don't worry. Now that you're here, I'll take good care of you!"

"Really?" Liu Hui wiped his tears, his voice still trembling a little.

He didn't mind suffering himself. What he feared was his wife and daughter being mistreated. They were so vulnerable, yet they trusted him completely.

"Really! As true as gold!" Tang Ping said with a grin. He took the luggage from Liu Hui, then waved to Liu Hui's wife and daughter. "Sister-in-law, niece, you've had a long journey! Come on, I'll take you to the Governor's Mansion and give you a proper welcome!"

With that, Tang Ping led the way out of the spaceport.

Along the way, people kept bowing to Tang Ping and greeting him respectfully. "Governor!" "Greetings, Governor!"

Following behind, Liu Hui saw all kinds of Alien Races, as well as powerful figures who looked as imposing as mountains and clearly weren't to be trifled with. They all bowed and paid homage to Tang Ping. His spirits lifted, but then a new wave of panic set in.

He had thought Tang Ping was just some "loser" governor, so he could still treat him like a brother as he always had. But now, it seemed Tang Ping was incredibly powerful...

"Should I start calling him 'Master' like Brother Xun did?" Liu Hui wondered wildly. "What if I can't bring myself to say it? And the way he's showing off makes me want to laugh. What if I burst out laughing? Will he beat me?"

He sneaked a glance at Tang Ping walking ahead. Tang Ping was talking to Liu Hui's daughter, making her laugh. The panic in Liu Hui's heart eased a little.

Maybe it wasn't so bad after all!