Chapter 8: Some Things, Someone Has to Do
Chapter 8: Some Things, Someone Has to Do
"You saw the news too?" Uncle asked.
"Mhm," Li Yuan nodded.
The seven major planets were distant from each other, and each planet had its share of Star Gates.
The number of Star Gates on Blue Star was relatively fewer compared to the other six planets.
Star Gates, which connected to the depths of the Star Sea and alien civilizations, were the frontlines of war between human and alien civilizations.
Battles frequently occurred.
The highest-level Star Gate within Xia Kingdom was the 'Rob Sea Star Gate' in the Northern Frontier Province, a second-tier Star Gate, where a large number of troops were stationed year-round.
In the past few days, Li Yuan had heard at school that the Rob Sea Star Gate had erupted in war, but he wasn't sure about the severity.
Now it seemed quite urgent.
"The Rob Sea War broke out suddenly, and headquarters ordered us to go and provide support for construction," Uncle said with a smile, appearing relaxed.
"We're leaving tonight, taking the 3 a.m. high-speed train," Aunt said beside him, her eyes filled with worry.
Li Yuan looked at Uncle, feeling the same concern.
In Li Yuan's memory, his parents' impressions were already hazy; after all, they had passed away when he was only two or three years old.
Li Yuan was raised by Uncle and Aunt, who treated him like their own child. In Li Yuan's eyes, Uncle and Aunt were as good as his parents.
Uncle's name was Li Changzhou, and he had a decent talent for martial arts. He graduated from Jiangbei Martial Arts University and double-majored in 'Civil and Hydraulic Engineering', eventually climbing the ranks to become a mid-level manager in a state-owned enterprise, earning a decent salary.
Aunt's name was Chen Hui, and she was a middle school math teacher.
After decades of marriage, they should have saved up a decent fortune, but why did they still live in the old neighborhood? Li Yuan knew the reason—himself! The cost of his illness, treatment, and surgery when he was young had accumulated to over a million Blue Star coins. Later, the expenses for his recuperation, various supplements, rehabilitation, and biological medicine were also a significant sum.
Since middle school, cultivating martial arts had been a money pit.
Take his cousin, Li Muhua, for example. His talent for martial arts surpassed Li Yuan from middle school, and he had even awakened his martial spirit in the first year.
However, the cultivation resources Li Muhua received now were still inferior to what Li Yuan had back then.
Uncle and Aunt never complained.
His younger brother and sister never felt that Li Yuan was taking their resources.
But Li Yuan himself felt guilty towards Uncle, Aunt, and his younger siblings.
This was also one of the main reasons why Li Yuan consciously started to cultivate frantically from middle school.
He didn't want Uncle and Aunt's efforts to go in vain, and he was determined to achieve something.
Especially after entering high school, when he further clarified his goals, hoping to rely on his own efforts to repay Uncle and Aunt in the future and make up for his younger brother and sister.
When Li Yuan first entered the second year of high school, his physical constitution had reached level 5.0, and he awakened the mysterious Mind Palace, causing his martial arts proficiency to soar.
"The Mind Palace is indeed mysterious, but if one doesn't put in the effort, it's all in vain," Li Yuan realized this after awakening the Mind Palace.
Therefore, he became even more diligent.
"Getting into the Martial Arts University."
"Even getting into one of the top five universities and eventually becoming a high-rank martial artist." This had always been Li Yuan's ambition.
Not just for himself, but also for his family.
Just now, when he learned that Uncle was about to go to the Rob Sea, Li Yuan's heart trembled.
Uncle Li Changzhou spoke nonchalantly.
But Li Yuan, who had been paying attention to the news for years, knew that soldiers and martial artists were the most at risk when defending against invasions from the other side of the Star Gate.
Next in danger were the workers involved in constructing various military defense facilities.
Uncle Li Changzhou's trip this time was essentially to serve as an engineer.
It was common knowledge that powerful Star Gate creatures couldn't be stopped by ordinary heavy firearms; only advanced technological weapons or high-rank martial artists could do the job.
It was extremely dangerous.
"If I hadn't gotten sick back then, or if martial arts cultivation didn't cost so much, Uncle could have stayed in the city and done some municipal maintenance work, without having to actively choose to be dispatched just to earn that extra subsidy," Li Yuan thought, feeling more and more uneasy.
...
"Xiao Yuan, go to the bedroom first, and I'll talk to you there," Uncle Li Changzhou called out to Li Yuan as he entered the master bedroom.
There were two small stools in the master bedroom, and Li Yuan sat down.
Uncle sat on the bed.
"Bang~" Aunt gently closed the door.
Li Changzhou's hair was thinning, and although he had gained a bit of weight, he exuded a scholarly demeanor.
"Initially, your aunt advised me not to tell you, fearing it would affect your senior year studies.
Li Changzhou smiled at Li Yuan, "But I believe that as men of the Li family, we should be able to withstand any pressure."
Aunt Chen Hui remained silent and sat down beside them.
"Uncle, please tell me," Li Yuan said in a low voice.
"According to the information I received, several defense systems at the Rob Sea Star Gate have been severely damaged, resulting in significant casualties for the military and the Star Palace," Li Changzhou said calmly. "This time, the attack was repelled, but if they launch another assault, there's a risk of a complete breach."
Li Yuan held his breath. A complete breach? The Star Gate's entrances were like critical gates, defending humanity against invasions.
If breached, it would undoubtedly be a catastrophe.
Back then, his parents had died in a Star Gate disaster.
"This time, there's a risk of death," Li Changzhou said calmly, looking at Li Yuan. "In war, people die, don't they?"
"Uncle, can't you not go?" Li Yuan couldn't help but ask.
"Headquarters wants us there, but if you truly don't want to go, I suppose they'll find a replacement," Li Changzhou smiled. "After all, the nation has only issued a Level Three Alert."
Li Yuan listened.
Xia Guo's response to the threat of war was divided into three alert levels, with Level Three being the lowest and Level One the highest.
Once Level One Alert was activated, it meant the entire nation would enter a state of war, with full mobilization of all citizens and resources to follow any call to arms.
In the past century, Xia Guo had only activated Level One Alert once, back in 2028.
Above Level One Alert was the 'Civilizational Alert', which could only be issued with the joint confirmation of the Seven Star Alliance's Supreme Council and the three Martial Temples.
If activated, it meant that at least one human planet was in a life-or-death situation, requiring full support from other planets.
Since the formation of the Alliance, only once in several centuries had the Civilizational Alert been activated.
However, even the lowest alert, Level Three, represented significant resource consumption and potential casualties.
"Xiao Yuan, I could choose not to go," Uncle Li Changzhou smiled. "But if I don't, someone else will have to take my place."
"Someone has to go to this war, right?"
Li Yuan fell silent.
"Can you handle it? Is the company so big that they can't do without you?" Aunt Chen Hui suddenly shouted, her eyes welling up with tears.
Earlier, Li Changzhou had already discussed this with her.
And in the living room, she had managed to hold back, not revealing anything to Li Muhua and Li Xi.
But now, hearing Li Changzhou's words, she couldn't contain herself any longer and blurted out.
Li Changzhou was taken aback. He reached out and gently embraced his wife's waist, comforting her.
Chen Hui lowered her head, her eyes red with tears, and remained silent.
After a moment, Li Changzhou said, "Xiao Yuan, don't worry too much. I won't be engaging in close-quarters combat like other warriors; it won't be that dangerous."
"Besides, I'm a Rank 1 Martial Artist, so I have some self-defense skills," Li Changzhou said with a smile.
Li Yuan remained silent.
His uncle was a graduate of the Martial Arts University, and at his peak, his physical attributes exceeded Level 12. But after years of work, he was probably only at Level 10 or 11 now, and many of his combat skills had likely become rusty.
Martial cultivation wasn't like immortal cultivation; one had to practice daily.
Suddenly—
"Drip!" Li Yuan instantly felt a vibration on his wrist and raised his hand to look at it.
"Your account ending in 1486 has received 56,000 Blue Star Coins. Transferring to account ending in... Balance: 58,324 Blue Star Coins," the display screen clearly showed.
"Uncle?" Li Yuan was taken aback.
He instantly recognized the account number; it belonged to his uncle, Li Changzhou.
"This is your living expenses for September and October."
"The internet might not be reliable in Beijiang Province, so I'm giving it to you in advance. You should know the process from when I took you to buy the basic Vital Energy Potion from Uncle Zhong," Li Changzhou smiled.
"I went with you."
"When you have time on the weekend, go to the Martial Temple to buy it from him," Li Changzhou said. "Your aunt will transfer your living expenses later."
"Aunt," Li Yuan turned to her.
"Listen to your uncle," Chen Hui's voice regained its calmness as she composed herself. "Take the money; you don't have to worry about home."
Li Yuan remained silent, not asking further.
His cultivation did indeed require financial support at this point.
"By the way," Li Changzhou turned to Li Yuan, "have you thought about which direction to take for the College Entrance Examination?"
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
