Shen Yixiu said she wanted to go to the sighting frontline as a soldier—to earn combat rewards and source energy blocks, achieve merits, and advance in rank through her own efforts.
Such a suggestion had been brought up to Shen Fengting before. Especially after Azure's research project on the "Shen Yixiu Miracle Condition" was terminated, this seemed to be the only—and the best—choice available.
In the end, the girl had to "support" herself.
As for the reason the research project was halted, aside from the lack of progress and results from the research itself, there was another factor: Shen Fengting.
In truth, this retired army commander had constantly interfered with the research, blocking any attempt that carried risk.
Several years ago, researchers had made an unauthorized attempt and opened Shen Yixiu's independent supply system. Shen Yixiu had immediately gone into heart failure. When Shen Fengting heard the news, he had activated his three-dimensional apparatus and charged in wielding a blade.
The old man's obsession with this matter ran so deep that he had practically lost his mind over it.
As for the Azure Alliance, since their own principles had always been fair to the point of cruelty, they in turn had no justification to demand that the retired commander "sacrifice" anything more.
In short, similar trials had been conducted hundreds of times without a single success. Shen Yixiu's condition could only be attributed to a unique physical constitution, devoid of any universal value.
At the same time, the researchers offered another conclusion: the girl's current strength likely did not stem from this system at all, but simply because she was remarkably strong herself.
This made the related research seem even more pointless.
"Grandpa, just let me go."
Inside the room, S-19 walked up to Shen Fengting. Her voice was still somewhat muffled, but she tried hard to project confidence and cheer. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'm really strong. Even that guy they call the strongest recruit in ten years—that Black Carp—can't beat me at all."
This was an argument she had prepared over the past several days. Shen Yixiu had long since made up her mind: she wanted to go to the battlefield and support herself through her own abilities. Even if she were to fall in battle one day... she would face it willingly and without regret.
Her only hope was that the day would come late, so her grandfather would never have to know or see it.
Furthermore, Shen Yixiu knew another thing: her grandfather had secretly kept an account of all the source energy blocks he had borrowed over the years, even though it looked as if they could never be repaid.
Right then, Shen Fengting looked up at his granddaughter after hearing her out, hesitating in silence.
Nearby, Wan Xiujing, whose cooperation had already been secured beforehand, chimed in to back her up. "Yeah, yeah! Sis usually has to go easy on him when they fight. Except for that one time he ambushed her... and just now when he patted Sis... well, it's fine."
Being a girl herself, Wan Xiujing blushed slightly at the thought of those two moments. She added, "Anyway, once Sis gets serious and angry, he's left scrambling for his life!"
Though he really does run fast when fleeing, Wan Xiujing suddenly thought in a brief daze.
"How can you compare it like that?" Shen Fengting finally spoke. Unable to reach a decision, he could only address the matter pragmatically. "That kid has barely been wearing armor for a month, while you've had years."
"I—but maybe my degree of fusion is even higher than his?" Shen Yixiu said anxiously.
Higher than Han Qingyu's would mean A+ or even S-rank. For such an astonishing speculation, Shen Yixiu had used the word "maybe."
Her source energy degree of fusion remained a mystery to this day, and perhaps it would remain one forever.
Back when she was twelve, she had not yet undergone fusion testing—she had intended to that year—but afterward, she could no longer leave her independent supply system, making it impossible to test in a source energy field.
"Even if it is..." Shen Fengting paused. "Your situation isn't like normal people. If an ordinary person gets injured, they can receive medical treatment. But if you were to suffer a malfunction..."
The old man felt a pang of heartache for accidentally using the word "malfunction," accompanied by immense self-reproach: Why have even I subconsciously started treating my granddaughter like a robot?!
Previously, Shen Yixiu's condition had never been made public, which served as a form of protection for her self-esteem.
If she truly went to join a regional squad this time... her own heart would first have to overcome that hurdle.
"Heh." Shen Yixiu tried hard to appear carefree and nonchalant, offering a broad, careless grin. "No, it won't malfunction. I'll be very careful."
Her situation was unique. If she suffered "damage" and the independent system was breached... it was very likely that she would simply... be gone.
Caught in a dilemma, Shen Fengting knew that letting his granddaughter go to the battlefield was an unavoidable choice, yet he still could not bring himself to make the decision.
"I... I'll think about it some more," the old man finally said.
"Mm." Shen Yixiu obediently went over and sat on the nearby sofa.
Mangmang Mangmang leapt onto her lap and lay down.
I just wonder if I'll be able to bring Mangmang Mangmang along when the time comes, she thought. The cat was her best companion. Over the years, only when she was with Mangmang Mangmang did Shen Yixiu feel truly and completely at ease.
Wan Xiujing took a cookie from the pile on the table and ate it.
The cat leaned over to sniff it as well.
Shen Yixiu took a piece, held it out in her palm for the cat, and then took a deep sniff herself. Smiling, she said, "You can't eat too much, okay?"
Mangmang Mangmang let out a happy "meow."
Inside the metal plating, Shen Yixiu smiled somewhat bitterly. In truth, she craved food far more than the cat did. But... maybe I really am a robot now? After all, aside from me, I've never heard of anyone else surviving purely on source energy.
Supposedly, even S-ranks couldn't do that.
Through her bodily sensations, the "robot" Shen Yixiu imagined the dismantled mechanisms, the metallic bands attached to her body and piercing her heart, and the blue light of source energy flowing like electric currents... It was a terrifying, horrifying thought that easily led to self-doubt. That mental image had once made her cry every night as a young child, wishing she could die sooner.
Fortunately, she had endured it all. The present Shen Yixiu had grown tough and powerful, and she was growing up. That seemed to prove she was not a robot.
Wan Xiujing always said she was like the legendary immortals who practiced inedia, untethered to mortal food and earthly trivialities.
Yet Shen Yixiu's own conjecture had never been mentioned to anyone—she guessed she was somewhat like a "human Great Spike" born of various coincidences during artificial modification.
For it was said the coalition forces had never discovered food or water among the remnants of the Great Spikes; thus, one hypothesis was that during their long interstellar voyages, they likely sustained their bodies purely on source energy.
Clack. The front legs of the reclining chair by the window touched down.
Shen Fengting finally opened his eyes, sat up, looked at his granddaughter, and asked, "Then which squad do you plan to join? Pick one, and Grandpa will pull some strings for you."
The old man had made his decision after all.
"I'm... fine with anything." Shen Yixiu had not actually given the question serious thought yet.
Wan Xiujing tilted her head in thought. "Why don't you join the same squad as that stinky Black Carp, Sis? Well, he keeps his word, and he has plenty of source energy blocks... That way, whenever you're free, you can earn more blocks from him."
The little merchant's abacus was clicking away again.
Shen Yixiu considered it and found Xiujing's reasoning quite sound. After all, Great Spikes weren't around to fight every day, whereas sparring could be done anytime. And while she disliked that guy, she was at least familiar with him.
"Though, in that case, we'd have to tell him Sis's true situation." Wan Xiujing, suddenly feeling a twinge of sympathy and reluctance, added, "Besides, I have to go back soon... Sis, you can't go on never speaking to anyone forever."
"Mm." Shen Yixiu hesitated inwardly, but nodded nonetheless, because this was the reality. Still... just thinking about it brought an awkward mix of distress and embarrassment.
"Join a squad with that kid?" Shen Fengting chimed in, clicking his tongue. "Better not, right?"
"Huh? Grandpa, you're acting suspicious. So... you didn't go and scam him out of source energy blocks, did you?" Wan Xiujing was the boldest of all; with an exaggerated expression and a sly grin, she looked at her grandfather.
"Cough... In any case, my recommendation is to go to Golden Eraser. I'll make the arrangements." Shen Fengting paused, then added, "Though Golden Eraser will likely try to recruit him as well... In any case, just don't bring me up."
"Oh." Wan Xiujing thought it over, then turned to Shen Yixiu. "Then Sis, how should we tell him? Should I go talk to him, or both of us together?"
Chapter 82