Barren Star – Chapter 11
by Little PandaAre you unsatisfied with my figure?
Hua Zhuoyu finally carried Ning Buyi on her back, her steps extremely steady.
However, Ning Buyi was only momentarily upset, and after lying on Hua Zhuoyu’s back, she began to regret it. Her chest pressed against Hua Zhuoyu’s back, making her feel somewhat uncomfortable. Her hands pressed on Hua Zhuoyu’s shoulders, creating a slight distance, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief. Without needing to touch her face, she knew her complexion must be as red as a peach blossom.
“Miss Ning Buyi.” Hua Zhuoyu tilted her head, adjusting Ning Buyi’s position upward, “Could you please stop fidgeting?”
Ning Buyi stiffened at these words.
The warmth from Hua Zhuoyu’s palms burned along her thighs like an endless fire. She patted Hua Zhuoyu’s back, saying angrily: “Put me down.”
Little Feng Jiu hopped on Ning Buyi’s shoulder: “Chirp chirp chirp.”
As if in agreement.
“Alright.” Hua Zhuoyu spoke with regret, releasing Ning Buyi and letting her slide off her back. Turning to gaze at the head-lowering Ning Buyi, she kindly added, “I’m not mistreating a patient, you requested this yourself. But, can you still walk?”
Ning Buyi raised her head and glared fiercely at Hua Zhuoyu: “Don’t you know to talk less and eat more?” (A common Chinese saying meaning to mind one’s own business). Her face was as red as peach blossoms, and her rippling water-like eyes, even when attempting to look fierce, carried little intimidation.
Hua Zhuoyu was certainly not frightened by her. She narrowed her eyes and smiled: “Miss Ning, are you unsatisfied with my figure?”
Ning Buyi exploded in anger: “What does your figure have to do with me?”
Hua Zhuoyu pretended to ponder deeply: “At least it should be comfortable when carrying someone, shouldn’t it?”
Ning Buyi: “…”
Until they returned to the base, Ning Buyi refused to acknowledge the mischievous and unruly Hua Zhuoyu. However, this trip was not without gains, as she learned some things she hadn’t noticed before. As a first-time Planet Master, and with her golden finger not providing automatic reminders, she could only rely on herself to establish firm footing on this land step by step.
However, she was puzzled. Since she had merged with the planet’s will and become the true Planet Master, theoretically, all living beings on this barren star should be her subjects. Could the “Dominate” skill be used on them? Or did “Dominate” have other hidden effects? Unable to figure it out, Ning Buyi could only awaken the Mountain Sea Atlas System to seek guidance.
【Host has finally begun to contemplate the essence of being a Planet Master. However, this is a declining barren star, with its planetary consciousness reduced to a pitiful state, just one small step away from becoming a star core. The Planet Master status can gain the favor of native life forms, but only if they haven’t been corrupted by dark pollution.】
Ning Buyi understood and, after thinking for a while, asked mentally: “What is a star core?”
【It’s a dead planetary consciousness. After a planet is sentenced to death, its consciousness transforms into a star core, which is taken away by the Judge.】
Ning Buyi: “So if I die, will I also become a star core specimen?”
【No, Host would just be taken for cremation.】
After understanding this matter, Ning Buyi let out a long breath. Her abilities had little room for effect on native life forms, after all, wild beasts exposed to dark pollution in the wilderness could hardly maintain a gentle and harmless state. They had already mutated, though perhaps there would be improvements later. But for now, there was no need to think too much – medications to drive away sand worms and other creatures from the base’s perimeter must be prepared in advance. Building up a barren star couldn’t be done by just staying inside the base.
Earlier, selling cabbage and night wolf fangs had brought in the first income, but this money was used for base energy renewal fees and purchasing nutrition agents, leaving the account empty now, still not escaping the state of complete poverty. The only hope now lay in the watermelons growing robustly on the vines. Ten melons had formed on the vine, and the original plan was to keep one for tasting and list the rest on the Starlight Ship, but now, forget it! Hua Zhuoyu simply didn’t deserve it!
Ning Buyi was true to her word. When it came time to list them on the Starlight Ship, she decisively changed the number to “10” and ordered high-efficiency pest repellent. Hua Zhuoyu only learned about this when the Starlight Ship’s logistics vessel arrived at the base to transport the goods, but by then it was too late to say anything. She could only watch helplessly as the long-anticipated watermelons were carried away by robots.
“Weren’t we supposed to keep one?” Hua Zhuoyu stared at the composed Ning Buyi, her usually calm demeanor finally showing signs of cracking.
And all because of a melon.
“Chirp chirp chirp!” Little Feng Jiu jumped into Hua Zhuoyu’s arms, sharing her grievance.
Ning Buyi said without blinking: “Short on money.”
Hua Zhuoyu deflated, and after a long while said: “I can transfer money to you.”
Ning Buyi replied coldly: “Now you’re finally willing to ‘find’ your identity chip? Aren’t you afraid of people knowing?”
“Know what? That I’m still alive?” Hua Zhuoyu gave a light snort, “My life or death is the easiest thing to determine. As long as I’m alive, no new Judge will be born.”
“The account transactions will reveal your location. I believe you can do it without anyone knowing, but what if something goes wrong?” Ning Buyi felt it necessary to maintain this vigilance.
“It’s just ten thousand star yuan.” Hua Zhuoyu remained silent for a while before looking up to speak.
“One hundred thousand.” Ning Buyi gestured with her fingers, smiling sweetly. How could fruit be priced the same as vegetables? Besides, rarity determines value. What’s wrong with asking for one hundred thousand for melons she hadn’t even dared to taste herself?
Hua Zhuoyu chuckled: “Miss Ning Buyi, you’re quite fickle.”
Ning Buyi, having achieved total victory, pulled a fake smile: “The feeling is mutual.”
If vegetables priced at ten thousand each only sparked small-scale discussions, then these fresh, unpolluted watermelons triggered a tidal wave of interest. When the fruit listing appeared on the Starlight Ship, the entire interstellar community was shocked. After all, many people could only find traces of fruit in books since birth. But now there were signs of their “revival.”
“Just like the cabbage last time, it’s from Mysterious No. 1. Which experimental base is this Mysterious No. 1 anyway?”
“That’s for the big shots to think about. Our job is to be ready to grab them on time. The Starlight Ship platform doesn’t care about your background, only how fast your hands are! According to the description, each weighs at least six kilograms, we can pool money together to afford one.”
“Has anyone provided experimental data and feedback about the cabbage? Can it expel dark pollution from the human body? My grandfather is a military veteran, and during the interstellar warfare, dark pollution accumulated in his body, leaving aftereffects. It’s urgent, very urgent.”
On the Star Network, residents discussed enthusiastically, wishing they could “fight through the siege” (a Chinese idiom “殺出重圍” meaning to break through difficulties).
In the Imperial Palace, Xia Tu paced back and forth with furrowed brows. When his sent messenger hurriedly returned, his eyes lit up as he pulled the person closer, asking: “How did it go? Any news? Which laboratory is it from?” If he could recruit Mysterious No. 1 under his command, his own power base would grow stronger. In the future, dealing with the Supervision Department and consolidating power in the Imperial government’s hands would be more assured.
“Lord Si Pu refuses to reveal any information.” The intelligence gatherer shook his head with a bitter expression.
Si Pu was one of the Star Court’s Judges, and came from the Si family, one of the three great elder families. Even the Imperial Crown Prince couldn’t use his authority to pressure such a person.
Xia Tu froze, and after a while, spoke through gritted teeth: “They won’t even give face to Zhuoyu?”
The subordinate, hearing the Chief Judge’s name, didn’t dare to respond. If that Chief Judge were still on the Imperial Star, he wouldn’t have dared to gather intelligence at all. Only His Highness one-sidedly believed that the Chief Judge “favored him specially”.
LP: The prince is a delulu guy, I see
Ning Buyi is so cute ( ≧◡≦)