The Interstellar Queen of Scavengers

Chapter 1455: Chapter 1455: Reflection

"Good job, Jiaojiao!" came Ji You’s voice over the spaceship’s broadcast.

Chu Jiaojiao chuckled and said, "If we didn’t put him in his place, he would really think he’s the strongest in the universe."

Ji You quipped, "How’s Spicy Eye, not dead yet?"

Yue Qiyuan, who hadn’t spoken up until now, quietly stood beside Sheng Qingyan’s treatment cabin. One of the doors of the cabin was transparent, allowing observation of the patient’s basic condition. Hearing Ji You’s inquiry, Yue Qiyuan answered, "Not dead, just opened his eyes again."

Upon hearing this, Ji You was instantly relieved.

Just a moment ago, if not for Sheng Qingyan’s sudden burst of spiritual power interfering with the movements of the black bear group, giving Chu Jiaojiao time to escape, they would have been facing two corpses.

Ji You broke out in a light sweat.

Frightened.

A wave of lingering fear made Ji You feel a bit weak, especially her arms and legs, which seemed to lose all sensation.

Ji You turned her head, looking at Chu Jiaojiao, Sheng Qingyan, and then at Yue Qiyuan and Yue Qiguang, feeling overwhelmed with emotion.

Not strong enough.

Still not strong enough.

Faced with merely a group of Level 4 and 5 Star Beasts, they had fallen into such a difficult situation. What if they were Level 5 and 6?

Level 7 and 8?

...

Would they just await death then?

Ji You’s eyes fell, her heart sinking heavily.

After punching Yue Qiguang, Chu Jiaojiao collapsed ungracefully on the hatch, her eyes staring unfocusedly at the sky above.

Weak.

Too weak.

Not only weak but also arrogant, thinking she was all-powerful with just a bit of talent, imagining she was strong enough to face a throng of Star Beasts alone, thinking she could take on the universe by herself...

Hehe...

No wonder Grandma always said she was just a little brat.

A little brat good at playing house.

...

This little brat, without Sheng Qingyan’s last intervention, would have been genuinely helpless.

Must become stronger.

Stronger.

Chu Jiaojiao’s eyes shone brightly after a moment of self-mockery, her expression decisively determined as never before.

Beside her, Yue Qiguang lay back on the hatch as well, basking in the warm sunlight, shading his face with an arm, leaving only a pair of slender, unruly eyes exposed.

Yue Qiguang blinked.

If I had been the last one to board the spaceship, could I have withstood the fierce attack of that black bear group?

Maybe.

But if placed in a crisis like Chu Jiaojiao and Sheng Qingyan faced, Yue Qiguang knew he couldn’t have escaped.

Neither Chu Jiaojiao’s overwhelming strike nor Sheng Qingyan’s all-crushing spiritual power were his to wield, not even close.

With this realization, Yue Qiguang suddenly clenched his fist.

A few meters away, Yue Qiyuan remained silent, saying nothing.

In the treatment cabin, Sheng Qingyan also stayed silent, wordless.

...

Everyone had survived the ordeal, but the atmosphere on the spaceship was unprecedentedly solemn and heavy. Liu Ming and the others, who had been saved and had already woken up, kept silent, cautious not to disrupt these young students.

Ji You, sitting in the cockpit, used the broadcast to address everyone: "The spaceship will circle Rao Planet and then return to the abandoned docking port."

All those rescued from the mine, after receiving simple treatment, were alive and their bodies were stable for now. As for any potential aftereffects, a comprehensive examination back on Safe Star would be necessary.

Ji You reported this to Principal Hong, who responded by directing them to continue orbiting Star 381.

After a slight pause, Ji You continued, "Estimated return in about 1 hour 30 minutes."

Nobody objected upon hearing this.

In the sky, after a brief pause, the spaceship resumed its course toward the northern hemisphere.

In a certain corner, Dr. Luo, dressed in protective clothing, silently observed this scene, nodding slightly. At this moment, Principal Hong’s voice came through the communicator: "Have they flown off?"

"Yes." Dr. Luo nodded, frowning, saying, "But it was too dangerous. That scene was really too dangerous. I hope you won’t prevent me from assisting the students next time."

Principal Hong’s voice remained flat and calm: "Aren’t they still lively and jumping around?"

Dr. Luo: "..."

Clearly choked by the response, Dr. Luo retorted, "That was purely luck."

Principal Hong said, "Luck is also part of one’s capability."

Dr. Luo: "..."

Dr. Luo said, "What if they don’t have that luck?"

Principal Hong maintained that infuriating tone, saying, "Well, then they’d have to blame their unlucky stars."

Dr. Luo took a deep breath, saying, "Enough of this. I’ll continue investigating the clues."

"Luo Wei." Principal Hong surprisingly turned serious, saying, "Once the clues are found, secure the evidence and destroy everything."

Dr. Luo paused in surprise.

Principal Hong said, "There will eventually be a confrontation, but not now."

Upon hearing this, Dr. Luo momentarily fell silent, then nodded: "Understood."

Principal Hong replied, "Alright. In 1 hour, you must return, even if no clues are found, you must retreat promptly."

Dr. Luo replied, "Okay."

Just before ending the communication, Dr. Luo suddenly added, "Those kids, you need to keep an eye on them. They’re all Sword Spirit’s precious ones. If anything happens out there, it’s your responsibility. I can’t handle Sword Spirit’s wrath."

With that said.

Dr. Luo promptly ended the call.

Nonetheless, she wasn’t really worried that Hong Jiang would neglect the kids. If that were true, he wouldn’t have let her hide in the shadows to witness the students’ battles.

Sigh!

All just a bunch of stubborn fools.

Dr. Luo sighed silently, then her expression suddenly turned serious. She took off, whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! vanishing from sight in an instant.

...

Ji You had no idea that during the black bear assault, Dr. Luo had been nearby observing. The situation was so critical at the time that even someone as strong-minded as Ji You couldn’t afford to be distracted by anything outside the battle. Later, Ji You was merely puzzled: "I clearly requested Dr. Luo’s support, why didn’t she show up?"

"Could it be—"

"Could something have happened elsewhere?" This was Yue Qiguang’s speculation, spoken with annoyance as he frowned and said, "How did these black bears even appear? How could such a minor planet spawn Level 4 and 5 black bears?"

This was a question everyone present wanted an answer to.

The spaceship had left the mine at Black Soil Mountain, but Ji You had launched a probe to continue observing the movements of the black bear group.

On the surveillance footage, the black bears, after their failed attempt, were in a frenzy, trampling some of the weaker, lower-level ones into a pulp.

Then.

The black bear group continued to rampage nearby.