Above the Galaxy

"Of course, the progress is still noticeable," Tang Fei comforted himself silently.

When he first started, the little bird simply couldn't take flight. At the initial toss, it would plummet straight down. The highest point it reached depended on how much strength Tang Fei could muster...

Then one meter, two meters, three meters, until now it could fly past treetops more than a dozen meters away.

"It must be an issue with the wooden support's strength," Tang Fei thought to himself, "The spring is carved from wood, the higher it climbs, the more powerful the source of energy needed. The faster the spring unwinds, the more rapidly it spins, turning so fiercely that it starts a fire..."

"If only I could make the spring out of steel. But even if the spring were steel, if the bird's body were still wood... wouldn't that just be drilling wood to make fire?"

"Unless the entire bird's body were made of steel..."

Abruptly, the old man's stingy face popped into his mind:

"You can't even get the wooden one to fly, and you dream of making it out of steel? Are you dreaming?"

Damn that guy!

"Brother!" Little Fatty's voice carried over.

Tang Fei turned around and saw Little Fatty walking over with a pale Phoenix.

Phoenix was looking at him with a peculiar expression, as if she had stumbled upon a new world.

She probably hadn't expected that he was not only handsome but also talented, right?

Mechanic, a profession highly sought after on New Star.

To become a good mechanic, sleeping concerns were out of the question...

Hey, why am I thinking about sleeping again?

Damn that old man!

Tang Fei watched Phoenix warily, thinking, this woman wouldn't be after him, would she?

He was still young...

She wishes!

Tang Fei looked at Phoenix and asked, "Why are you out and about? Are you feeling better?"

"Much better. I took your medicine and drank a bowl of meat soup. When I got up today, I felt much more comfortable... and the scars are starting to heal," Phoenix explained.

Although being stranded in this unfamiliar and barbaric land filled her with despair, this boy's concern had sparked a warm current in her heart.

Strange feeling. She used to be surrounded by people showing her courtesy and warmth, and she would only offer a ceremonial thank you or even feel annoyed inside...

Indeed, one desires what they lack.

On top of the ruins, even the slightest bit of concern was a great comfort.

"Hmm, don't worry. Your wound will itch a bit as it heals, and you must not scratch it... it's a normal reaction after applying Snake Skin Tree sap."

"In a few days, scabs will form on the surface of the wound, and when those scabs naturally fall off... your skin will return to its previous condition, with no trace of injury, and even a little fairer than before."

"That amazing?" Phoenix exclaimed in admiration.

On New Star, using the latest skincare products or medical beauty equipment could also remove scars, leaving no marks on wounds.

But here, on the ruins, Tang Fei simply chewed a few tree leaves and applied them to the wounds, and it had the same effect.

After the catastrophe, the ruins were indeed full of treasures. It just required diligent exploration.

"Of course," Tang Fei nodded. "Go back and check to see if there are any places that haven't healed. If there are, I'll chew some more Snake Skin Tree sap and apply it... a few more treatments and it should be fine."

Phoenix nodded and said, "No worries, I know my body. I'm just still a little weak."

"Mm. That's good to hear," Tang Fei said with a smile.

The better Phoenix's recovery, the sooner she could return to New Star, the shorter the time before he received his repayment supplies...

He had already fantasized about himself driving a Flying Car wielding a Pulse Gun to go hunting; he would be the brightest Monster Hunter on this planet.

Phoenix looked at Tang Fei and said, "I'd like to go see where I fell."

"You mean you want to see your escape pod?" Tang Fei asked.

"Yes." Phoenix nodded. "If the communication equipment inside is still working, I can get in touch with my family directly, ask them to come and get me, and bring your reward supplies at the same time... would that make you feel more at ease?"

"Look at you, what's there to feel at ease or not? From the first moment I saw you, I felt you were a trustworthy woman."

Tang Fei appeared nonchalant as he said, "Still, contacting your family is good. I hope you can reunite with them soon... after all, this place isn't where a woman like you should stay."

Phoenix smiled and asked, "And where should a woman like me stay?"

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"I should have stayed on New Star, stayed where it's all sparkling and shining," Tang Fei said aloud.

Phoenix gave Tang Fei a meaningful glance and said, "A boy like you might have won over quite a few noble ladies had you reached New Star."

"Really?" Tang Fei, unable to contain his excitement, asked, "What would they like about me?"

"..."

Phoenix looked at Tang Fei's unwashed face and his long hair stuck together, thinking to herself that she must be crazy to have said such an illogical thing...

"Kind-heartedness," Phoenix saw that Tang Fei was still eagerly staring at her, full of anticipation, and had to answer stiffly, "and bravery."

"And good looks," Tang Fei added, "I just haven't washed my face. If I did, even I would think I'm incredibly handsome."

"..."

Under Tang Fei's guidance, the three of them found the crash site where Phoenix had fallen yesterday.

Phoenix rushed toward the escape pod, clambering inside and immediately tried to start the main engine.

"System damaged, unable to start!"

She attempted again, and the mechanical voice of the artificial intelligence repeated the same message:

"System damaged, unable to start!"

"System damaged," Phoenix said with a look of regret. Although she had been prepared for the worst, such a result had been anticipated, but when faced with the reality, the disappointment was still hard to suppress.

She also tried to search for the communication equipment inside the escape pod, hoping to establish contact with New Star, but the result was equally disappointing: the communication equipment was severely damaged and couldn't pinpoint any location.

Unable to pinpoint her own location, let alone that of New Star. How could she establish contact?

"Can't get through?" Tang Fei came closer and asked.

Phoenix was saddened, and he was saddened as well.

If Phoenix couldn't return, he wouldn't receive that 'gratitude gift package'... What was he to do now?

Thinking of the Pulse Gun Flying Car and a ton of supplies drifting away from him, his mood turned even more sorrowful than Phoenix's.

Human emotions, indeed, are interconnected.

"You saw..." Phoenix could feel his eagerness to 'send' her off, pointed to the escape pod's control panel, and explained, "Fell from the sky, the damage was severe... the system won't start, the communications equipment can't pinpoint..."

"Is there any other way to make contact?" Tang Fei asked.

Phoenix raised her arm to show her holographic smartwatch and said, "There's this..."

"So why... it's broken too?"

Phoenix nodded.

Silence.

A deathly silence.

After a long while, Tang Fei asked, "What's your plan now?"

"I plan to go back with you," Phoenix replied.

It was the only choice, as well as the best one at the moment.

After all, this man was her savior. If he could save her once, he could save her a second time.

If she left this place, who knew what kind of vicious people or monsters she might encounter...

"What?" Tang Fei exclaimed in shock.

In the plan he and the old man had, once this woman came to, they would send her straight back to New Star.

That way, they would not need to take responsibility, save on food, and possibly receive a large package of rewards for their kindness...

And now she wanted to go back with him?

First, having one more person at home meant he needed to hunt more.

Second, her identity was a mystery, and since her crash here was due to an attack, what if her enemies came looking for her? They didn't have the kind of relationship where they shared both the good times and the hard.

Third, if she didn't go back, when would he receive his rewards? If she never returned and always followed him, it would affect his hunting efficiency...

"State your terms," Phoenix spoke, an air of nonchalance about her.

She had more or less mastered the art of communicating with this guy. As far as he was concerned, money could solve any problem that could arise.

Fortunately, she was not short on money.

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