I, on the Starry Sky Railway, change everything

"I...I already know the truth."

After a long silence, Qingni finally made up her mind and spoke, causing Yukong and Feixiao to turn around and look at her.

"What's the secret?"

“I am your adopted child, not your biological daughter. I’m sorry, Mother, I read your diary in the drawer.”

"!"

Yu Kong's eyes trembled violently. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, only a helpless sigh remained.

"It was my mistake."

"Mother……"

"During this tribulation at Luofu, the Jianmu tree was revived, Hulei escaped from prison, some Dragon Masters fueled the flames, and the Medicine King's secret teachings were hidden in the shadows. The Extinction Legion and the Buli Beast Ships also pressed in with their massive armies, yet strangely, no one died in battle. Civilians and soldiers alike, everyone is alive and well. I remembered the past and pulled out my diary..."

In the Third War of Abundance, the Emperor's Bow and Arrow descended, a divine miracle belonging to the God of Fate, which annihilated the evil creatures and also affected the Immortal Ship Army.

The happy ending that the miracle failed to create was achieved by chance in Luofu.

"Regarding why no one sacrificed themselves, Sister Yukong, I can tell you definitively that it's all thanks to Huayi. He protected everyone—hey, I'm not good at resolving my own issues, so why don't you all come with me to find Huayi, and he can be the mediator!"

"I'm not angry with my mom anymore."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Before he could ponder the truth behind the phrase "Hua Yi's contribution," Yu Kong quickly broke free from Fei Xiao's grasp.

"It's too impolite of Zhuang to go there in the middle of the night."

"Okay, let's go tomorrow."

Chapter 418: She is the helmsman, and also a mother.

The next day, Hua Yi was invited by Yu Kong to go out for a walk.

The Master was quite thoughtful; he specifically asked him if he had eaten a proper meal. After receiving an affirmative answer, he did not hold a banquet at a restaurant but instead suggested a small pavilion near the Sichen Palace as the meeting place.

The scenery is beautiful, quiet and peaceful.

Hua Yi pretended not to notice Fei Xiao, who was jogging and exercising nearby, and focused his gaze on the two fox-people in the pavilion.

Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her blue and white dress, resembling a flowing gown, concealed her skin. Only her seated posture subtly outlined her graceful curves.

The black high heels contrasted sharply with her fair ankles, making her skin appear even whiter than snow.

She is a stunningly beautiful woman with a mature charm, but her high position always makes her beauty appear dignified.

Now, in the text message, he specifically stated, "I hope to talk to you face-to-face about my relationship with Qingni."

Since it was a family matter and had nothing to do with official business, Yu Kong completely restrained her superior demeanor and acted as a worried elder and an older sister who cared about those around her.

A gentle breeze from the Star Chariot Sea Central Hub blew across Yu Kong's hair, causing her dark hair to sway across her face.

With a light touch of her fingertips, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, a simple gesture that held a thousand charms.

Qingni, standing next to her, was staring blankly at the floor with her head down.

She clearly held a position in Tianbo Company 747, and was an official of Luofu. Yesterday, she stopped Gui Naifen's dangerous behavior on the street, but now she has shed those identities and is just a nervous young girl.

"Gentlemen, I'm ready to resolve this family dispute. Or did you two have more than just one argument yesterday, escalating to the point of physical violence? Should I contact Bai Lu right away?"

A clever opening.

Hua Yi's somewhat exaggerated remark eliminated all unnecessary formalities.

Having held the position of helmsman for many years, Yu Kong was naturally able to keenly perceive this thought, but Qing Ni simply understood it literally and hurriedly gave an explanation.

"No! My mom and I didn't argue, let alone hit each other..."

"So what's the situation now?"

Hua Yi took out two cups of Fairy Happy Tea that he had bought on the way from his pocket.

A cup with less sugar helps prevent the tea from becoming bitter, giving it a more natural flavor.

Another cup of polysaccharide, so that Qingni can drink more sweet drinks.

"The situation is..."

During the previous waiting period, Qingni was absent-minded, and only now did she begin to organize her thoughts.

Scenes from my childhood flashed through my mind.

Following her example, she secretly opened the Starship and experimented with all sorts of extreme maneuvers, proving to herself that she was indeed as talented as her mother, because Qingni not only survived, but also stopped very steadily.

When she was brought in front of Yu Kong, Qing Ni happily showed off to her, thinking that she would laugh out loud and touch her head, saying, "As expected of my daughter."

As a result, Qingni had never seen her mother with such a terrifying expression.

She admitted that it was wrong for a minor to drive a Starship, but her mother seemed to be angry not only about the incident itself, but also about her taking her as a role model and about having the same talent as her.

Qingni had never understood why.

Now she has figured it out, but whether facing Hua Yi or spending time with her mother yesterday, Qingni cannot properly express her chaotic thoughts.

In the end, it was still Yu Kong, the mother, who had to reveal the hidden story.

Hua Yi used drinks to further change the atmosphere in the pavilion, making it less serious. In this atmosphere, Yu Kong naturally reached out and stroked Qing Ni's head, using the action to prevent her from feeling uneasy.

“Qingni is my adopted child. She was raised by my comrade-in-arms, and before that, by another comrade-in-arms… Hua Yi, do you understand what I mean?”

"The Immortal Ship Alliance has been patrolling the starry sea, eliminating evil forces, and experiencing countless wars, large and small. The interstellar forces all feel that the alliance is full of martial virtue. But behind these glorious achievements are the Cloud Cavalry fighting bloody battles and sacrificing themselves for them." Hua Yi understood.

"To die heroically in the face of evil is the glory of a warrior, but..."

Yu Kong almost said something he shouldn't have.

It was neither appropriate to confide in Hua Yi, the anonymous passenger on the train, nor should Qing Ni hear it.

Her words abruptly stopped as she finally realized, more than ever before, just how terrifying Hua Yi truly was during their conversation.

It can even make you unconsciously lower your guard and confide everything to him.

Seeing Yu Kong take a deep breath and look at him with a hint of surprise, Hua Yi's expression turned serious and earnest, unlike his usual gentle smile.

Doing the right thing at the right time is crucial; laughing to oneself on such a heavy topic would be inappropriate.

"I can imagine the sacrifices the Alliance made to eliminate these evil creatures—the Cloud Cavalry died on the battlefield, entrusting their children to their comrades. The dead left their children alone and helpless, while the living took on the responsibility of raising them. This probably didn't even require a will to ask for help; it became common knowledge in the army."

Qingni has more than one adoptive mother, but her mother before she flew away has already passed away.

During wartime, no one knows whether they will be alive tomorrow.

Even among the Imperial Bow Generals, there have been instances of them sacrificing themselves in battle, perishing together with the Envoy of Abundance; how much more so the other soldiers.

Hua Yi fully understands Yu Kong's mental journey.

He was heartbroken by the sacrifice of his comrades. In order to raise Qingni and give her a relatively stable family environment, he chose to bury himself in his books after the war ended, facing an endless stream of files.

At least Yu Kong can spend more time with Qing Ni.

“I have always forbidden Qingni from becoming a pilot because of Caiyi’s last words. She did not want this child to follow in our footsteps, and I feel the same way.”

"I see."

Hua Yi nodded.

"If Qingni were to sacrifice herself on the battlefield, you would not be able to bear it. If it were a Xianzhou citizen, they might fall directly into the demonic body. Fox people do not have this kind of calamity on the surface, but they also face various chronic diseases, and their hearts are broken to the point of being unable to recover. This is not an exaggeration."

"……Um."

Yu Kong's gaze shifted, fixed on Hua Yi.

Despite being a young person, he always manages to resonate with me when we talk.

He understands me.

Originally, Yu Kong thought that Hua Yi would clearly stand on Qing Ni's side and ask him to allow her to become a pilot or board the Star Train as an anonymous passenger.

The reality was completely different from what was expected.

He is a near-perfect listener, as if you can tell him anything and he will understand everything.

“I know that every Cloud Cavalryman, once they take off their armor, is a treasure to their elders at home, or has their own brothers and sisters, their own children and darlings. To forbid Qingni from going to the battlefield solely in the name of protection is my selfishness, and it violates the Six Imperial Codes—”

Yu Kong lowered his eyes, his expression a mixture of apology and determination.

"But I am also a mother, and Qingni's family background is already pitiful enough."

Chapter 419 Have a Cry

Yu Kong's usually elegant and intellectual purple eyes were now filled with a jumble of emotions.

When Hua Yi first came to Luofu, she met Yu Kong at Si Chen Palace. At that time, Yu Kong was very professional and polite in her speech and behavior, but she always maintained a sense of distance.

Now that the two are closer, there's no longer any naivety, carefree joy.

The fox-people, who have lived for over two hundred years, have many stories. The first half of their lives may have been filled with vibrant colors, but the cruelty of war and the death of their dearest friends later erased all those colors.

"A frail old man is utterly useless, like tattered clothes hanging on a stick."

"That's a bit self-pitying," Hua Yi comforted Yu Kong in another way. "Master, are you comparing the Sky Ship Bureau to a wooden stick?"

"..."

If Hua Yi is just an anonymous passenger on the train, Yu Kong will definitely have to give a proper explanation.

But he has become my friend.

A friend with whom you can share some of your past experiences and express your sadness.

Faced with this special reassurance, Yu Kong simply smiled faintly and did not explain anything in particular.

She understood that Hua Yi didn't see Tianbo Company as a wooden stick, nor did he see her as a ragged garment.

"This is an ancient poem from abroad that I heard many years ago. Its rhythm is different from that of the Xianzhou poem. I can't say I like it, but this particular line has always lingered in my heart, like a spirit that I can't shake off."

“I have seen how foreigners age: their skin and muscles become loose, their brains undergo irreversible degeneration, their bones become brittle, and their eyes become cloudy.”

“I understand why foreigners envy us. I was once like them, thinking that we would never grow old, that we would never change our appearance.”

Before each expedition, Yu Kong would promise his comrades, "Just hold your weapon tight, I will bring you back to the Celestial Ship."

But she broke her promise. After that battle, only Yu Kong dragged his broken body back to the Heavenly Ship Bureau.

I can't go back.

I understand perfectly well.

From then on, Yu Kong focused on his official duties and stopped daydreaming about returning to the skies.

"I'm old, and old people are always prone to being willful and stubborn."

He doesn't look old at all when he flies.

With fair skin, a beautiful face, and a slender figure, her delicate and flawless face is without a single wrinkle. Time seems to have left no trace on her; only her mature temperament has forged an amazing charm that belongs to Yu Kong.

She's grown old at heart.

Memories of the past have been washed away by time; the bright ones have not been preserved, leaving only the dim ones, like a lingering ailment, that can never be shaken off.

"Don't let Qingni become a pilot—this is my comrade's dying wish, and it's also my obsession. Please don't try to persuade me anymore, Hua Yi."

In his last sentence, Yu Kong spoke earnestly, with a hint of pleading.

Her dark hair fell across her forehead, obscuring her face and making it impossible to see her complexion.

But the fact that he could no longer sit upright revealed his inability to control the air.

It is so poignant and beautiful that it stirs the soul and evokes boundless pity.

"...Qingni, do you know what to do now?"

Hua Yi suddenly asked Qing Ni a question, which startled the fox-girl.

"Ah! What... what should I do?"

"When your mother shows sadness and dwells on the past, you, as her daughter, need to run into her arms and act cute, telling her that your mother is not old at all, that she is the most beautiful and amazing person in your heart, and that she will take care of you and spoil you for the rest of her life, okay?"