The Gold-Eater Clan had retreated. Was it because Blind Ancient had died? Or because...
Yang Wanqing remained pressed against the viewport.
Her gaze passed through the vacuum, through the endless starlight, toward the region of space where Mars had once existed.
There was nothing.
Tears struck the cold metal panel, spreading into small wet patches.
"Master... Master, where did you go?"
Her voice was so soft that even the communications officer beside her failed to hear it. But by her second sentence, she was choking back sobs.
"You're so powerful. You must be all right, aren't you?"
No one answered her.
The space beyond the viewport was deathly silent.
Yang Wanqing wiped her face, turned, and ran for the hangar.
"Captain Yang! Where are you going..."
She ignored him. She rushed into the hangar, jumped into her single-seat patrol craft, and started the engine.
"Yang Wanqing requesting clearance to depart..."
Before the Zhenyuan's dispatch channel could approve her request, her patrol craft had already launched. Its destination: the region around Mars's former orbit.
She wasn't the only one.
Ye Chendong's combat vessel charged out of port right behind her. Wu Tian dragged his still-healing body aboard a transport craft.
Ying Wenjie contacted the Qin Family through their communications channel and requisitioned a medium-sized search ship. Qin Xiaoyu commandeered one of the Zhenyuan's reconnaissance craft outright.
Five ships, heading in five directions, all raced toward that empty stretch of space.
Chen Siyao's voice rang out over the public channel.
"Everyone, come back."
No one slowed down.
"Martial Aunt, let me go take a look..." Qin Xiaoyu's voice caught with a sob.
"I said, everyone, come back."
This time, the channel fell silent for two seconds. All five ships slowed down, but none turned around.
Chen Siyao spoke again. "There's no need