Barren Star – Chapter 7
by Little PandaI’ve entrusted myself to you.
Ning Buyi placed her hand on Hua Zhuoyu’s chest and looked up at the sky.
There’s a slight difference between an unconscious “patient” and a “vivacious beauty”, and she didn’t want to give Hua Zhuoyu a chance to tease her due to a momentary lapse. On this remote planet, with only the two of them, it was somewhat dangerous. No matter how she thought about it, she had to admit one thing: the internet can’t replace the true essence of life. A lonely person might even develop feelings for a blade of grass, let alone a beautiful person.
She needed to be vigilant and guard against emotional tricksters.
Unfortunately, Ning Buyi’s somewhat comical action didn’t last long. She was startled when she heard a comfortable moan from Hua Zhuoyu and looked down to meet her eyes, which were full of laughter. Her face turned crimson.
She didn’t understand; she was just absorbing the dark pollution, why moan like that? After realizing the dark pollution was descending, she hastily withdrew her hand—letting Hua Zhuoyu deal with the remaining residues herself, chewing on leaves to suppress it!
“Can these be eaten?” Ning Buyi pointed at the corpse of the night wolf on the ground.
Hua Zhuoyu smoothed her cuffs and smiled, “I thought you’d be concerned about my well-being.”
Ning Buyi snorted, “If I were going to be concerned, I would have done it when you got back.”
“Aren’t you worried something might happen to me? And then I’d lead the night wolves to the base?”
With a cold expression, Ning Buyi replied, “If that happens, I’ll just throw you out to feed the wolves. After all, every debt has its debtor, and they might show some understanding.” Without waiting for Hua Zhuoyu to respond, she added, “You still haven’t given me an answer.”
“You’re really heartless.” Hua Zhuoyu shrugged, “If you don’t mind the dark pollution, you can eat it.” The livestock specially bred in the laboratory naturally carry dark pollution and require specific methods to expel it, not to mention the beasts living on barren stars. However, with Ning Buyi’s purification ability, perhaps she could completely expel the dark pollution? Thinking this, Hua Zhuoyu looked at Ning Buyi with a more probing gaze.
“Are you from the Ning family? Why haven’t I seen you before?”
Ning Buyi replied lazily, “Because my mother encountered a love scammer, making me someone who can’t see the light.”
Her answer was tactful, and Hua Zhuoyu understood, apologetically saying, “I’m sorry.”
Ning Buyi chuckled lightly, “There’s nothing to apologize for. I don’t consider this a stain on me or my mother. The one who should be condemned is the lofty Ning family head, don’t you think?” Her gaze swept over Hua Zhuoyu, “I thought you should be concerned about your own family’s matters.”
A dark gleam flashed in Hua Zhuoyu’s eyes, “My family? What’s there to be concerned about?”
Ning Buyi didn’t respond. If Hua Zhuoyu didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t press the issue. Anyway, in the story, Hua Zhuoyu’s brother, Hua Songyu, wasn’t a good person. This time, Hua Zhuoyu was attacked, but the book doesn’t detail it. However, if there were a mastermind, Hua Songyu would likely be a major suspect, wouldn’t he?
Pushing irrelevant thoughts out of her mind, Ning Buyi refocused her attention on the two night wolves. Their dark gray fur was soaked with blood, and their wounds were consistent, with their heads pierced by energy weapons. Ning Buyi crouched down, suppressing her dislike for the smell of blood. She didn’t know if she could absorb from something dead, so she decided to give it a try.
The blood-soaked fur under her palm had clumped together, feeling prickly to the touch. Ning Buyi observed the changes on the chart, watching the values slowly fluctuate, and felt a surge of joy in her heart.
It works! It’s even faster than absorbing from living organisms. This means there’s another path, and the development of the barren star can accelerate a bit more.
Looking forward to a bright future, Ning Buyi was extremely excited as she stayed crouched in front of the night wolf until she reached a critical point of mental exhaustion. Watching the number change from 0.5 to 6, she smirked and wobbly stood up. However, her weak and sore legs couldn’t support her body, and she stumbled forward. At that moment, a steady and strong hand caught her waist, preventing her fall.
Dizzy and disoriented, Ning Buyi’s vision cleared from black and white specks, and she found herself facing Hua Zhuoyu. Instinctively, she asked, “Why are you still here?”
Hua Zhuoyu blinked, “Perhaps, it’s fate that I stay here, to save Miss Ning from falling and hurting her face?”
Ning Buyi pressed her lips together and, avoiding Hua Zhuoyu’s expression, quietly said, “Thank you.”
Hua Zhuoyu tilted her head slightly and released the now steady Ning Buyi, deliberately asking, “What did Miss Ning just say?”
Ning Buyi: “…” Thanks, my foot! She planned to rest a bit before dealing with the remaining night wolf, but there was something else she needed to do first. Clearing her throat, she looked at Hua Zhuoyu with as solemn an expression as she could muster, “Ah… Miss Hua, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Hua Zhuoyu raised an eyebrow, “Just call me Ah Zhuo.”
Ning Buyi didn’t pay attention to that comment and continued, “The base is short on energy, as you know. Nutritional supplements are even scarcer, so we might have to rely on these things for food.” As she spoke, Ning Buyi pointed to the night wolf on the ground. “But don’t worry, given that the dark pollution in your body isn’t cleared, I won’t skimp on your vegetables. You don’t need to do anything, just remember my kindness.” Please, don’t sentence the barren star to death in the future!
“I will.” Hua Zhuoyu smiled and then asked, “Have you decided on the price for boarding the Starlight?”
“Ten thousand, how does that sound?” Ning Buyi had researched the interstellar “market prices.” Ten thousand star coins were more expensive than synthesized gene vegetables, which interstellar civilians couldn’t afford. However, this might not always be the case; once plants spread across the barren star, prices could be adjusted accordingly.
Hua Zhuoyu’s smile deepened, “It’s up to you.”
Ning Buyi added, “There’s one more thing.”
Hua Zhuoyu tilted his head, “Hmm?”
Ning Buyi pondered for a moment, “Maybe I could go out with you.” Actually, she could wait in the base for Hua Zhuoyu to bring back the prey, but unfortunately, Hua Zhuoyu isn’t her worker and will eventually leave the barren star. At that point, she’ll have to rely on herself. She also considered the “meat” from the trading platform, but anything that meets the listing standards is likely processed.
Hua Zhuoyu looked surprised, “Do you want to train yourself?”
Ning Buyi shamelessly said, “I’m worried that the dark pollution in your body might exceed the standard and you’d accidentally die outside.”
Hua Zhuoyu looked at Ning Buyi, speaking with deep sincerity, “Then I’ll entrust myself to Miss Ning.”
“Okay.” Ning Buyi kept a straight face, though her eyes flickered.
By evening, Ning Buyi finally started dealing with the second night wolf.
After absorbing all the dark pollution, the reserve in the chart reached 11 cubic meters. Ning Buyi left the task of processing the wolf carcass to Beidou and Hua Zhuoyu and then jogged to the warehouse to purchase ten red thorns. She planned to plant the red thorns around the base, in areas where the protective shield was weaker. Once the red thorns formed a forest, they could compensate for the shield’s deficiencies to some extent. She just wasn’t sure how long it would take for the red thorns to fully grow into a forest and whether her supply of nutritional supplements would last.
Digging holes could barely be considered a skill honed by practice. By the time Ning Buyi planted the ten red thorns, the sky was already a deep black. The energy lights in the base emitted a faint glow, as if they could be swallowed by darkness at any moment. Ning Buyi rubbed her back, sighing. When she has the money, she’s definitely going to buy ten—no, a hundred robots to farm for her.
When Ning Buyi got back, she took a shower first.
Her tired body and mind left her with no interest in preparing something delicious; instead, she just wanted to take a nutritional supplement and then sleep like a log. Her eyelids drooped as she held a towel, haphazardly drying her damp hair. A wonderful aroma wafted in through the open window, stirring her sense of smell and prompting every cell in her body to react.
In the living room.
Hua Zhuoyu sat on the sofa with legs crossed, pointing at a stack of roasted meat on the coffee table, “Want to try some?”
On the barren star, spices and seasonings were extremely scarce, so Ning Buyi’s choices were limited to boiling or eating raw, and she had to comfort herself by calling it the “natural flavor.” But now Hua Zhuoyu had brought “taste.”
“You have seasonings?” Ning Buyi asked. Without waiting for Hua Zhuoyu to reply, she continued talking to herself, “Well, as the eldest Miss of the Hua family, one must be particular about food.” Who would want to drink bad-tasting nutritional supplements when there’s roasted meat to enjoy? Ning Buyi didn’t refuse Hua Zhuoyu’s offer; she picked up the chopsticks and started savoring the delicious food.
Hua Zhuoyu watched Ning Buyi with a smiling expression.
“Will you go out with me tomorrow?”
Ning Buyi looked up, “Are we going to Night Wolf Mountain?”
“No, I’ve already cleared out the wolf pack there. We’ll go somewhere else.” Ning Buyi didn’t seem to have much combat ability, so if she was taking her along, they’d have to find some prey suitable for practice.
Ning Buyi paused, glancing at Hua Zhuoyu, “Did you handle the bodies as well?”
Hua Zhuoyu didn’t deny it and nodded, “Yes.”
Ning Buyi let out a light scoff, “So bringing back the two night wolf corpses was actually to test my ability?”
Hua Zhuoyu didn’t hesitate, still answering sincerely, “Yes.”
Hua Zhuoyu’s actions didn’t surprise Ning Buyi, nor did they anger her. She put down her chopsticks and met Hua Zhuoyu’s gentle gaze, “You know my abilities, but I know nothing about you. Isn’t that a bit unfair?”
Hua Zhuoyu straightened her posture, her expression serious, “My abilities? I hope the world never finds out about them.”
“Are they dangerous?” Ning Buyi probed further.
“Yes, extremely dangerous. But as an exchange, I can tell you something else you’re very interested in.”
Ning Buyi: “Hmm?”
Hua Zhuoyu said leisurely, “I’m not the predetermined candidate for the Crown Princess, but it can’t be ruled out. Actually, among the Ning family, Hua family, and Si family—the three founding families—any unmarried women of suitable age might be chosen by the royal family.”
Ning Buyi tapped the edge of her plate with her chopsticks, but as soon as the sound rang out, she realized the action was inelegant. She cleared her throat and emphasized, “I don’t care about that.”
Hua Zhuoyu, with smiling eyes, went along with Ning Buyi’s words, “Alright, you don’t care.”
Ning Buyi furrowed her brows; Hua Zhuoyu’s quick change of tune left her feeling a bit frustrated.
She won, but not really. Continuing this conversation would just make it seem like she was being unreasonable.
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