Not Going Back

With the trial period settled, the students returning to the training grounds found that Instructor Guan had already cut the mech pilot candidates who were to be eliminated.

Instructor Guan had been hired a year ago at a high salary, after Vice Principal Su had overridden objections to replace the previous incompetent mech instructor. A man of few words with strict methods, he was well-liked by students. For those pursuing mech piloting, learning the real thing meant responsibility for their entire professional lives.

Xu Lingqu briefly congratulated Natata before hurrying to the medical bay. Lying in the Silek coagulation device, the searing pain finally began to fade.

Doctor Li glanced at the girl who had closed her eyes for treatment and sighed. She was about to sit down when Instructor Zhang walked in, his face clearly marked from the two punches he'd taken in his duel with Xu Lingqu.

"First come, first served. The Silek device is taken; you'll have to make do with the ordinary one." Doctor Li raised an eyelid and began treating Instructor Zhang as well. "You two really went at it."

Instructor Zhang smiled. "Of course. This was intense hand-to-hand combat, not just about personal victory but also representing our teams."

Seeing his seriousness, Doctor Li's mouth twitched. Who had tricked her into thinking this was a cushy job? Still—being able to witness this lively batch of new Moye students, and discovering Xu Lingqu's special constitution, could be counted as a blessing in disguise.

"But I'm used to this level of combat injury," Instructor Zhang said, glancing at the running Silek device. "She was slammed down hard, yet she got back up and organized an effective counterattack. That's ruthless."

When the ruthless Xu Lingqu emerged from the device, the Stalker-R3 had once again arrived at the training grounds.

Everyone's feelings now were completely different from the excitement and novelty of their first sight of it.

Some were thinking they could finally leave this godforsaken place, while others harbored a vague reluctance.

There wasn't much to pack in the dorms, so everyone quickly gathered and boarded the Stalker-R3 once more.

In the cockpit, Kai Ang rubbed his chin. "Will Xu Lingqu still get dizzy during this jump?"

Instructor Chen: "...Probably not."

This time, Xu Lingqu indeed didn't plan on fainting. When the second jump began, she timed it just right, silently sitting down and curling up like everyone else, pretending to look miserable.

When the jump ended, Xu Xiqin looked at her with surprise and delight. "You're much better this time."

Jin, who hadn't been clear on what happened last time, immediately asked, "What happened? What happened? How is our commander much better? What happened before?"

"She previously..." Shen Shouli started to answer but changed his mind. "Why do you ask so much?"

Jin: "...!" Can't I even ask?

Fortunately, Xu Xiqin was happy to explain. "Last time, my sister fainted directly. I even thought Shen Shouli had pushed her."

Xu Lingqu, seeing that enough time had passed, slowly stood up with Xu Xiqin's help.

"Sister, you've improved," Xu Xiqin immediately added her praise.

"Mm," Xu Lingqu nodded.

Indeed, she had improved—mostly in acting.

The Stalker-R3 stopped at the central plaza of Moye Military Academy. Returning to this school, everyone felt as if an eon had passed.

Last time, they had been here for less than half a day before being sent off for an extraordinary trial period. Now, some people would be leaving with their suitcases.

Xu Lingqu returned to her dorm and was greeted first by a blob of dog sprawled right in the middle of her bed.

Yes, a standard blob of dog. Liu Ming had stretched out all four legs, sleeping very relaxed. Its white fur had been regularly groomed by the room's housekeeping robot, making it smooth and fluffy.

Xu Lingqu walked closer and poked the "cotton candy" blob several times.

"You're back!" Liu Ming woke from its dream, ready to get angry, but when it saw who was in front of it, its tail started wagging.

However, it took a few more looks and its tail slowed. "You... you've changed so much."

The former girl had been sickly and pale, looking like she might faint at any moment. Now, after plenty of training, she stood taller and more upright, no longer so thin and frail. The illness had left her face, replaced with a bit of vitality.

"Not bad," Xu Lingqu said, not paying much attention to her appearance, and sat down on the edge of the bed. "You've been living well these days."

Under the housekeeping robot's careful care, its fur had fluffed up, and its body had rounded out. Now it really looked like a round cotton candy.

"I... I'm fine too..." Liu Ming said a bit awkwardly, then pressed its dog paw on Xu Lingqu's thigh. "Actually, I missed you a little."

A master should stay by their puppy's side; otherwise, no matter how good the food or sleep, they would still miss you.

Before Xu Lingqu could answer, the doorbell rang. Xu Xiqin went to open the door.

"Your place is pretty similar to ours. Nice. Is the commander in her room?" It was Jin's voice. They must have come to visit.

Xu Lingqu opened the door and went out with Liu Ming. The closest was Liu Zheng. Liu Ming went up and rubbed against her leg, looking like it wanted to be petted.

After Liu Zheng petted it, it went up to Shen Shouli and proudly raised its dog head. Finally, it was Jin's turn. His hand was already outstretched, a smile on his face, but Liu Ming braked sharply, dodging behind Xu Lingqu.

Jin: "...Why is it like this!"

Even the dog bullies him!

Xu Xiqin laughed out loud. "It doesn't like red-haired monsters."

"It doesn't like the golden-haired monster either. It won't let you touch it either."

"Who said that? At home, I used to touch it all the time."

Xu Lingqu turned around and poked the dog's head, but Liu Ming stayed hidden behind her, not moving.

"I'm in the room above you. My roommate is Natata. She wanted to come too, but something came up and she left first," Liu Zheng interrupted the two childish arguers.

"That's great," Xu Xiqin said, indeed distracted, stopping the pointless argument.

Jin then remembered the reason he had come. "Instructor Chen just notified that we have ten days off. Any plans?"

When had Instructor Chen notified them?

Xu Lingqu checked her smart device and saw that the notification had been sent while they were still on the Stalker-R3.

"Going home."

"Back to Star System No. 4."

"Going back."

"You're all leaving? I thought I was the only one going back. Wait, Commander, what about you? Why aren't you saying anything?" Jin asked curiously.

According to the intel he had gathered, wasn't Xu Lingqu the child of General Xu's old subordinate? Hadn't he adopted her for her own good? Judging by Xu Xiqin's attitude toward Xu Lingqu, he had thought the Xu family treated her well, but now it didn't seem quite right...

Xu Xiqin had just received the message when her more well-informed brother sent her a barrage of messages, insisting she return to the Capital Star, saying he was too busy with work to come pick her up on Yuheng Star.

She guessed her brother wouldn't have sent Xu Lingqu a message, so she asked directly, "Sister, are you coming back with me?"

Xu Lingqu shook her head. "Not going back."

Going back now would just add to the gloom—for both sides.