dtnovels Chapter 129: Taking in Xiaolu
Chapter 129: Taking in Xiaolu
Not everyone knows what it feels like to escape death; only those who have experienced it firsthand know how arduous it is.
Chu Xiaolu's heart finally calmed down. Zhou Yuan let go of her hand and walked alongside her.
"Brother, I don't know your name, so I'll just call you brother. Thank you so much for saving my life."
"You don't need to be polite. I'll save you just because we're human."
"But why didn't the other adults save their fellow human beings? They let the soldiers drag them out and kill them. If they had just tried to stop them, they probably wouldn't have been killed, right?"
"Well, this..."
"Big brother, do you really like me?"
Zhou Yuan was stunned and stopped in his tracks, staring straight at Chu Xiaolu. "Don't talk nonsense. You are indeed young and beautiful, but don't flatter yourself."
Chu Xiaolu blushed again, as if she were a little girl pouting, "Big brother, I'm going to pretend to be in love with you."
"I'm too lazy to talk to you."
Zhou Yuan strode forward. "Big brother, don't walk so fast, wait for me." Chu Xiaolu almost ran to catch up with Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan quickened his pace, and Chu Xiaolu kept chasing him without saying a word, but she was panting heavily.
"Ouch!" Chu Xiaolu suddenly cried out in pain. Because Zhou Yuan was moving so fast, Chu Xiaolu's cry sounded somewhat "blue-shifted." Zhou Yuan seemed to notice the abnormality as well, and turned around to look. Chu Xiaolu was sitting on the ground some distance away.
Zhou Yuan had no choice but to run quickly, and soon he arrived in front of Chu Xiaolu. Chu Xiaolu felt a strong wind rushing towards her, and this "wind" blew her long hair backward. In a flash, Zhou Yuan was in front of her. The wind suddenly stopped, and her long hair stood up.
"Big brother, you're amazing. Your speed is almost on par with our Wuji."
"Black chicken? Are black chickens that fast? I'd like to see your black chickens."
"Hmm, your speed is many times faster than those famous sprinters and long-distance runners."
"Don't talk, let me see your left leg." Zhou Yuan supported Chu Xiaolu at an angle, using his thigh to support her waist, and gently touched Chu Xiaolu's foot with his left hand. Chu Xiaolu let out a painful "Ah".
"Yes, I sprained my ankle." After Zhou Yuan finished speaking, he shook his left hand. To Chu Xiaolu's surprise, a beam of bright light shone from Zhou Yuan's sleeve. Zhou Yuan shone the bright light on Chu Xiaolu's ankle, and Chu Xiaolu immediately felt a warm and comfortable sensation. After a while, the pain completely disappeared.
Zhou Yuan helped Chu Xiaolu up, "Stand up and walk around and take a look."
Chu Xiaolu instinctively put her left hand on Zhou Yuan's right shoulder, took a step with her right foot while her left foot slowly extended to touch the ground. After touching the ground, she seemed to feel nothing. She removed her left hand from Zhou Yuan and started walking on both legs, then jogged quickly, and then ran, like an excited child. Zhou Yuan smiled, shook his head, and quickly went over.
"Big brother, you are amazing! I want to become your apprentice."
"Stop fooling around, Adams is still waiting for us."
Upon hearing Adams' name, Chu Xiaolu's expression changed drastically, becoming flustered. She then fell silent and walked quickly with Zhou Yuan.
When Zhou Yuan arrived, Earth Empire special forces guards quickly surrounded him and Chu Xiaolu. Adams tried to speak to Zhou Yuan, but was also blocked by the guards.
"Sir, are you two alright?"
"My lord?" This was the first time Zhou Yuan had ever been addressed like this.
"Adams, are you calling me?"
"Yes, my lord."
"We're fine, sorry to have kept you waiting."
"It's alright. Lord Balatu just sent word that you should come and visit our planet Amos."
"Yes, Lord Balatu did give me those instructions before I left. Let's set off now."
"Okay, my lord."
"Adams, don't call me 'sir, sir,' it's not a good habit. Just call me Zhou Yuan."
"But sir... but... Lord Zhou, you know, when we came here, Lord Wacker sent a warship to pick us up. Now, going back, going back..."
"what happened?"
"Well, to be honest, please don't laugh at us. Human civilization has only just entered the information age..."
"Adams, I understand. Then you can board our warships."
"Thank you."
Two human races, more than thirty people, followed Zhou Yuan under his leadership. Chu Xiaolu automatically lined up with her compatriots.
Along the way, the guards saluted Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was unaware of the etiquette of the twelve sections of the Great Wall, and simply waved to them.
The group passed through without hindrance and soon arrived at the platform, where a special train was waiting. After everyone boarded, the train started moving automatically and soon arrived at the small warship berth on the northwest side.
When the ten humans from Amos boarded the Earth Empire's warship, their faces were filled with unparalleled astonishment, their eyes darting around. Novelty, advancement, sheer size, science fiction—these were the words they didn't utter.
Zhou Yuan connected the warship with the base command. Soon after, the warship took off and accelerated rapidly. The six warships accompanied each other and entered warp space together, escorting the small warship away from the Kelly Great Wall Group's base in the capital star system.
The small warship leaped out of warp space, and in the distance, a reddish-yellow sun and a light blue planet came into view. Zhou Yuan noticed that the nine Amos were excited, but in the corner of his eye, he also noticed that Chu Xiaolu seemed to have a worried look on her face.
Gradually, the light blue planet grew larger, revealing oceans, mountains, forests, grasslands, and cities. During the reconnaissance, Zhou Yuan also noticed massive mining-like sites around the eighth or ninth location on the planet. This mother planet of the Amos people was indeed beautiful, and its environment was suitable for human habitation. Judging from various signs, Zhou Yuan believed that the Amos civilization's technological level was equivalent to around 2028 AD on Earth.
Zhou Yuan recorded everything on video and sent it to Wei Shan and Lefia from a distance, partly to let them know he was safe and partly to show them the planet Amos.
“Darling, this planet is really similar to our original Earth.”
Soon after, the three of them began a real-time video call.
"Big brother, we were so worried about you! And what did you do? You ran off to another Earth without taking us with you," Lefia said, expressing her dissatisfaction.
"I will first seek the approval of the planet's leader. If he allows you to come, then come immediately."
"Really? That's great!" Wei Shan was just as excited.
Zhou Yuan immediately explained the situation to Adams, who did not refuse and readily agreed.
"Shanmei, Yamei. I'm sending you the coordinates now, you two hurry over. We'll be waiting for you at this military base for two hours. Luckily, this planet isn't too far from our base."
During these two hours, leaders of various important departments and key scientists from Amos were allowed to tour the small warship. Zhou Yuan neither concealed nor kept secrets from them, patiently answering their questions. When it came to profound knowledge, Zhou Yuan explained it in a way that Amos could understand. Of course, because the technology of Amos civilization was vastly different from that of the Earth Empire, Zhou Yuan only guided and inspired the Amos scientists on the direction of technological development for the next century. Needless to say, Adams, the officials, and the scientists were all very interested and listened with great interest. Even Chu Xiaolu was fascinated; after all, the prospect of the next century was extremely alluring to everyone.
Needless to say, this small warship was a real eye-opener for the Ammonians. Unfortunately, they could only internalize its high technology. Those Ammonian scientists probably won't be able to sleep for days.
Two hours passed quickly, and Adams, Zhou Yuan, and others waited outside the military base.
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the sky, and two figures materialized on the ground. Two stunningly beautiful women ran side-by-side towards Zhou Yuan, ready to embrace him. However, realizing the presence of Earth Empire interstellar special forces, Wei Shan and Lefia slowed their pace. Adams and the other Amos people, naturally, had a deep impression of that "light teleportation." Adams took the initiative to lead the group forward to greet them.
After a round of handshakes and pleasantries, everyone began to be assigned luxury armored vehicles, at which point some unexpected incidents occurred.
"Hey bro, who's that tall, pretty girl? Why is she following us?"
Zhou Yuan turned around and, sure enough, found Chu Xiaolu following behind. The three of them stopped. When Chu Xiaolu saw them turn around and stop, she seemed a little scared and a little wronged. She also stopped, her eyes filled with tears.
"Adams, what's going on?" Zhou Yuan shouted.
Noticing Zhou Yuan calling him, Adams and his attendant walked over in small steps and came to the four of them. Adams gently pulled Chu Xiaolu aside.
“Lord Zhou, Lord Balatu personally instructed me that Xiaolu is a gift for you. We dare not neglect her, nor dare we disobey Lord Balatu’s orders.”
Wei Shan and Leifia almost simultaneously asked, "Give him a woman?" Fortunately, the two didn't lose control and calmly looked at Zhou Yuan.
Zhou Yuan asked somewhat helplessly, "What if I don't accept?"
"Lord Zhou, you know Lord Balatu's character. Who would dare disobey his orders?"
"Just tell me straight. What are the consequences if I don't accept it?"
Adams seemed to show a hint of fear in his eyes, and his expression became unnatural. "Lord Zhou, let's tell you the truth. If you don't accept it, we will be disobeying Lord Balatu's orders. The consequence will be that Xiaolu will definitely be executed, and our offerings will probably have to be doubled again."
"Offering? What kind of offering?"
Adams seemed reluctant to mention it, and Zhou Yuan didn't press him, but simply remembered the matter of "offering".
"Lord Zhou, please save Xiaolu, for my sake and because Xiaolu is an orphan."
"An orphan?" Wei Shan and Lefia were taken aback. They grabbed Chu Xiaolu's hands and pulled her towards Zhou Yuan. Upon hearing the mention of an orphan, tears finally welled up in Chu Xiaolu's eyes. Wei Shan quickly wiped away her tears, while Lefia comforted her.
Wei Shan and Lefia communicated telepathically with Zhou Yuan, saying, "Xiao Lu is quite pitiful, let's take her in for now."
"You two won't be jealous, will you?"
"We believe you."
"Well."
"Adams, Xiaolu will come with us. Please convey my gratitude to Lord Balatu next time."
Adams' face lit up with a hint of joy. "Thank you, thank you. Lord Zhou, let's get in the car."
"it is good."
Wei Shan and Lefia, holding Chu Xiaolu's hands, walked together towards the large, luxurious armored vehicle. Zhou Yuan and twenty interstellar special forces soldiers then boarded. This armored vehicle followed the lead vehicle, with the Adams car following Zhou Yuan's car, forming a long convoy that roared towards the presidential palace in the capital, Amos. This military base wasn't far from the presidential palace. Presumably for special and distinguished guests, the highways and city roads along the route were cleared, not a single car in sight. Escorted by fighter jets and armed helicopters overhead, the convoy sped along, but at speeds reaching 500 kilometers per hour, the ride was remarkably smooth; Zhou Yuan, Wei Shan, Lefia, and the others felt no vibration or discomfort.
An hour later, the motorcade stopped near a massive, towering presidential palace. The parking lot was already heavily guarded; beyond the protective fence, Zhou Yuan saw video cameras, presumably broadcasting the grand meeting live by news media. Along the route to the presidential palace, high-ranking government officials lined up to welcome them.
A short while later, under the protection of soldiers, Adams led everyone to a huge circular room, which was the council chamber of President Amos's palace, capable of holding 100,000 people. When Zhou Yuan, Wei Shan, and Lefia entered the hall, it was already nearly full of important Amos figures, who all stood up and applauded, causing a sensation throughout the hall.
Under the arrangement of the etiquette team, everyone took their seats.
The Amos civilization has achieved global unification and implemented a federal system. Its supreme leader is President Adams, and its management system is somewhat similar to that of the M country in the Earth's Common Era.