Chapter 361: Chapter 361: The Return

“They’re on our tail!!”

Cang Hong didn’t dare to stop for even a second, flying onward without pause.

Although his beast form had wings, his flight capabilities weren’t exceptional. He needed the others on his back to attack the pursuing creatures and slow them down.

Shi Lichuan gripped a rifle, firing continuously behind them.

Lying beside him were the heavily wounded Yun Xie and Mo Chen.

By the time they had found Yun Xie, he was on the verge of collapse. Of the Beastman Warriors at his side, only corpses remained.

Only Mo Chen was still clinging to life.

So they hastily pulled the two from the tide of beasts. In the process, both he and Cang Hong had been injured.

And so, the four of them began their desperate flight.

The Alien Beasts behind them were in relentless pursuit.

They didn’t dare stop to board their starship, fearing the Alien Beasts would swarm and destroy it in an instant.

“Cang Hong, head for that ruined city up ahead and check it out!”

’If there are survivors, we can rescue them. With more people, we could clear a path and get to the ship.’

’Otherwise, the longer this drags on, the more trouble we’ll be in. If Cang Hong’s Riot Value hits 80%, we’re all done for.’

Cang Hong said nothing, simply putting all his energy into flying forward.

’My body feels impossibly heavy.’

***

「May 8th.」

When the citizens of the Federation and the Empire woke up to the news, it felt as if their worlds were collapsing.

[Following multi-national deliberation, the United Assembly has resolved to carry out the destruction of all currently occupied planets at 12:00 PM sharp on May 8th.

We are deeply grieved by this resolution, but for the greater good, we were compelled to make this choice.

This day will go down in Interstellar history….]

Jiang Qin couldn’t bear to read the empty platitudes of condolence that followed.

She rushed downstairs to find Yuan Ling, her voice a mix of desperation and hope. “Is there any ship that can reach the Frontline Star in four hours?”

With current Interstellar starship speeds, even the fastest would take over a dozen hours to reach the Frontline Star—and that would have to be a privately modified vessel.

So, a ship that could make it to the Frontline Star in four, or even three, hours was nothing but a fool’s dream.

Even though his heart ached for Jiang Qin, who was on the verge of tears, Yuan Ling could only shake his head.

“The best I can do is a ship that arrives in about eight hours.”

“I’m sorry… for putting you in a tough spot,” Jiang Qin’s voice was already choked with emotion.

As she lowered her gaze, a tear splashed onto the floor.

It was in her nature to cry silently.

The sight was a knife to Yuan Ling’s heart.

At that moment, he was filled with regret.

’If he had known this day would come, he would have worked harder, focused more on developing faster starships.’

Yuan Ling didn’t know how to comfort her, so he could only say gently, “I’ll try to contact them for you. Maybe they’ve already left the Frontline Star…”

“I’m sorry to trouble you.”

Facing Jiang Qin, her features flushed from crying, Yuan Ling had never felt so frustrated with his own awkwardness.

’All I can do is use my own skills to help her.’

Soon, he managed to connect to Shi Lichuan’s Light Computer, but there was no answer.

No matter. He could just remotely control the Light Computer, force it to accept the call, and even activate the video feed.

On the screen, Shi Lichuan was dual-wielding pistols, firing away.

He was surrounded by numerous Alien Beasts, but also many Beastmen.

Some were in their beast forms, fighting on the front lines, while others had reverted to their humanoid forms, fighting by his side with weapons in hand.

From the looks of it, they were trying to break through an encirclement, so it was no surprise that Shi Lichuan hadn’t noticed the incoming call.

He didn’t even notice when the call was forced through.

Jiang Qin’s voice was tight with anxiety as she shouted a warning, “Shi Lichuan! The Federation Military is going to destroy the planet at twelve o’clock sharp! You have to get off-world before then!!”

“Qinqin?”

Shi Lichuan, guns still in hand, paused for only a second before resuming his fire.

“Yeah, it’s me. Don’t lose focus. I just wanted to tell you when they’re destroying the planet.”

“You all… you’ll come home safe, right?”

Before Shi Lichuan could answer, Cang Hong’s blood-streaked face filled the Light Computer’s camera feed.

“Don’t worry, Qinqin. We’ll make it home safe.”

“Don’t you worry. I promise you, I’ll bring them all home.”

Jiang Qin’s throat was tight. “You promised. You can’t break your word… I’ll be waiting for you.”

With that, she ended the call first, not wanting to distract them any longer.

Hearing that they were already in the process of breaking out did ease her heart, if only a little.

But she couldn’t stop the knot of anxiety in her chest.

’But could they really escape from this situation…?’

’She tried to reassure herself not to underestimate them—they were all exceptional males. But without confirmation they were safe, her heart wouldn’t be at peace.’

At times like this, she couldn’t stop herself from finding something to do, anything to keep busy.

Thinking of the moment the Frontline Star’s defenses fell, and of the countless people who had yet to return, an idea began to form.

***

An hour later, a new song was quietly uploaded to Jiang Qin’s homepage on the Star Network.

“Homecoming”

Despite the heavy mood hanging over everyone, they still clicked on the song.

A deep, almost somber melody began to play.

“Like a flickering candle, keeping watch in the dead of night,

A gaze warm enough to melt the wind and snow, falling on the path toward home.

…

In a place where the snow falls in peace,

Young blood still burns hot.

…

The people’s wish is all the same,

To see all things grow again, and return to their homeland…”

Before they knew it, the song had already looped several times.

The somber melody, the captivating lyrics—every element tugged at the hearts of all who listened.

Homecoming!

Snapping back to reality, many found warm tears streaming down their faces.

This song brought back so many memories. My partner is a Federation Soldier.

He’s been stationed on so many planets—some with unmelting glaciers, some with sand dunes in endless night, some with seas trapped in perpetual storms, and some with treacherous jungles.

But this time… I don’t think he’s ever coming home.

’To see all things grow again, and return to their homeland’… but can they really go home now?

If there really is an Underworld, if there are really judges of the dead, please, can’t you give these poor souls a good fate?

The time for the planet’s destruction is getting closer. There’s nothing we can do but grieve.

We can only pray that any survivors who got the message can make it out in time.

Congratulations to Qin Bao on her safe return…

But too many people hadn’t made it home. The mood was so heavy that no one could even crack a smile while browsing their Light Computers.

If the song hadn’t been released by Jiang Qin, most probably wouldn’t have even been in the mood to listen.

But it was from Jiang Qin. And out of habit, they always clicked on her new releases the moment they appeared.

They hadn’t expected to be unable to stop listening once they started.

Their minds were filled with that one line: *The people’s wish is all the same, to see all things grow again, and return to their homeland…*

But on the Frontline Star, nothing would grow again. And the people of the Frontline Star would never get to see their homeland again…

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