"There's no need to thank us. These secrets are only stories for idle conversation; they won't be of any help to you. We also know something about the Insect Race. More than two million years ago, the Insect Race spread throughout the Milky Way overnight. It was a disaster for every civilization in the galaxy, and countless civilizations were destroyed in the Insect Race's jaws. Later, several Great Star Region Civilizations joined forces to wipe out the Insect Race, carving out half the Milky Way as living space for ordinary civilizations. Both the Great Star Region Civilizations and the Insect Race suffered heavy losses. Both sides slowed their advances, and the fighting settled into a stalemate along a front near the center of the Milky Way. Unfortunately, our technological capabilities have fallen far behind, and we can barely protect ourselves. Being selfless and free of desire has made our Snow Tribe complacent and backward. This isn't the kind of civilization we want either. Sigh."
"Patriarch, just as you said, self-interest objectively exists in every civilized species. As long as we keep it under control, civilization can develop along a normal course. We humans have all kinds of laws and moral standards to regulate our self-interest. Even after we became a wandering civilization, we still didn't abandon those standards and laws. We've also tried to apply those morals in our dealings with other civilizations. Now the entire Milky Way is in danger. We humans are only a Star System-Level Civilization, but we're still prepared to do our part in the war against the Insect Race. We don't want our descendants to be left without hope," Hu Yu said, full of fervor.
"Your ambition is admirable, General, but you can't understand how we feel without having experienced the great rise and fall of our civilization. On one hand, we want to return to the peak of civilization; on the other, we try desperately to escape the past. We've always lived with that contradiction."
"Patriarch, forgive my disrespect, but it's been ten billion years. Whether the past was glorious or difficult, it's time to let it go. We humans have a saying: reflect on the past, live in the present, and look to the future. Yet you've been living in the past all this time. Your people seem content, but what meaning is there in a civilization without a future, no matter how content it is? I think your first patriarch was admirable. Though he failed, at least he had his moment of glory. He tried, and he fought. I also believe the passion deep in your people's hearts hasn't gone completely cold. They've been waiting for a patriarch who can lead them to rise again."
"Reflect on the past, live in the present, and look to the future!!! Why doesn't our race have such philosophical sayings?" the patriarch murmured, repeating the words.
Hu Yu and the others couldn't help sneering inwardly. It was just something Hu Yu had made up on a whim. There was a little truth to it, but it was hardly profound. Perhaps a perfect species really didn't exist. The Snow Tribe's thinking abilities far surpassed those of ordinary species. Every one of them was equivalent to a human supercomputer, and one with its own independent logic at that. Yet their emotional thinking was so deficient that it was almost unbelievable.
Though humans couldn't think as fast as the Snow Tribe, they could always find a reason to convince themselves. Their progress was slow and winding, but at least they wouldn't head in the wrong direction. The Snow Tribe and humanity were like an ox cart and a train. A train was fast, but if a large rock suddenly appeared in front of it, it could only crash straight into it. An ox cart was slow, but it could easily go around the rock without getting itself completely turned around.
"Patriarch, we've more or less accomplished what we came to Snow Star to do. It's time for us to leave," Hu Yu said. The fleet still had to press on, and there was no reason to waste time staying here. Since the Snow Tribe could handle the approaching stellar storm, it was better for the fleet to leave early, lest the Snow Tribe think the human fleet coveted their technology.
"General, thank you for the reminder. I'll gather my people to discuss this issue and push the Snow Tribe back onto the path of technological development. Also, since you wish to leave, it wouldn't be right for me to insist that you stay. To thank you for your kindness, my people have discussed it and agreed to give you the grand unified model of the four fundamental forces. With it, your warships' defenses can be made stronger."
"Patriarch, that gift is too generous. We never expected anything in return when we came here," Hu Yu said politely.
"It's nothing. We don't have much technology left that's worth offering. Even if I didn't give you the grand unified model, you'd be able to develop it yourselves in a hundred or two hundred years at most. There's also something else I should tell you. A Small Star Sector Civilization has been operating behind the scenes in your war with the Sand Python Civilization. Be careful."
"So it's true. We've always suspected something about the Sand Python Civilization's rate of progress. Given the characteristics of their race, they couldn't possibly have caught up with us in a little over a hundred years after losing their technology tree. Patriarch, do you know which Small Star Sector Civilization is pulling the strings?"
"We don't know. We can only see a few hundred light-years around Snow Star, and there are no Small Star Sector Civilizations within that range, so we don't know where they came from or what they want."
"All right, we'll investigate it ourselves. Patriarch, we don't have any worthwhile gifts to offer you, only some cultural products from our civilization. We call it music. Listening to it regularly can relieve stress and also stir the will to fight. Every piece evokes a different feeling. I think it should suit you. Your emotional thinking isn't as developed as ours, so this music might amplify your emotions, making your people more lively and filling them with fighting spirit."
"You're very thoughtful, General. We'll be sure to have our people listen carefully to your cultural products. General, my time is nearly up. After we part, we may never meet again. It has been an honor for our Snow Tribe to meet you today. When I'm gone, I hope you can lend the Snow Tribe a little help if we're ever in danger. On behalf of the Snow Tribe, I thank you in advance." The old rabbit patriarch bowed deeply and spoke sincerely.
"There's no need for that, Patriarch. As we humans say, friends should help each other. As long as it's within our power, we'll help. Patriarch, if you don't mind, I can give you our human genetic technology for reference. Perhaps it could extend your life."
"No, thank you for your kindness, General. The end of a Snow Tribe member's life cannot be delayed. Besides, I'm not afraid to die. For me, death would be a release. For five billion years, I've been unable to convince myself or unravel the knot in my mind. If I'd met you sooner, General, perhaps the Snow Tribe wouldn't be as it is today."
"Patriarch."
"General, this is one of the candidates to become the Snow Tribe's next patriarch. If my people agree to develop technology, he will be the Snow Tribe's fourth patriarch." The old patriarch pulled a young rabbit forward and introduced him to Hu Yu.
"Yan Xue greets you, my lord." The young rabbit was named Yan Xue. He stepped forward and bowed to Hu Yu.
"Please, there's no need. How could the young patriarch bow to us? Besides, I can't be your lord. In terms of rank, you're a level above me. We're only one branch of human civilization, and I'm merely the leader of this branch. The leader of our entire human civilization isn't here," Hu Yu said modestly.
"Oh, if I don't call you 'my lord,' what should I call you?"
Hu Yu was speechless at the Snow Tribe's emotional thinking. He'd only been saying it to be polite. Needless to say, being called "my lord" by the future leader of an advanced civilization felt great.