Master Pang Qian patted Yang Ying on the shoulder. Yang Ying turned around. "Master, do you require something?"

Master Pang Qian chuckled softly. "I overheard what you just said. A young man with your insight can bypass many detours. Are you still certain you don't wish to join Nian Neng Temple?"

Yang Ying shook his head gently. "Master, I believe this matter need not be revisited."

"Since you insist, I won't press the issue," Master Pang Qian nodded. "Regarding your inquiry, I consulted the Elder Council, and their reply has just arrived."

"I am eager to hear it!" Yang Ying immediately lent his full attention.

"The Elder Council has agreed in principle for me to teach you a few things. However, I currently have an assignment—I must venture into the Northern Mountains to exterminate the remaining Ape-Men. I wonder if you'd care to accompany me? Or, I can teach you upon my return." Master Pang Qian paused, awaiting Yang Ying's opinion before making further plans.

"Naturally, I will accompany the Master to exterminate the Ape-Men," Yang Ying's tone was resolute. "The battlefield is the best place to train for combat."

"Excellent. If that is your decision, return and prepare yourself. We depart tomorrow!" Master Pang Qian declared.

Though the timeline felt rather rushed, Yang Ying had nothing pressing on his schedule; leaving sooner or later made little difference to him.

"Master," Yang Ying inquired, "will there be others joining us?"

"Of course. Dealing with over thirty Ape-Men is too much for just the two of us. Several other Nian Neng practitioners will depart with us, though we will separate once we reach the mountains," Master Pang Qian explained. "Besides the Nian Neng practitioners, both the Fleet and the Garrison are sending special forces as support. I am well-acquainted with Wen Yang, and he and his squad will team up with us tomorrow."

"Special forces?" Yang Ying recalled reading in the biographies about the cooperation models between special forces and Nian Neng practitioners. In small-scale engagements, a Nian Neng practitioner’s acute perception could be immensely valuable; a squad led by one could easily defeat three similarly equipped squads lacking such guidance.

Master Pang Qian gazed up at the sky and spoke slowly, "We must cleanse the Ape-Men from the Northern Mountains as swiftly as possible. The war has not truly passed, and we will encounter more enemies. If the Ape-Men remain in the mountains by then, they will act as a surprise force, posing an even greater threat."

Yang Ying looked surprised. "The war has not truly passed? How do you know this?"

Master Pang Qian held up a single finger, pointing toward the heavens. "Ask your own heart. How close do you feel war is?"

Yang Ying looked up, seeing nothing but the thick, perpetual cloud cover blanketing Titan. Yet, a faint sense of unease welled up within him, as if hostility lingered just beyond the clouds.

"I have a bad premonition," Yang Ying admitted honestly about the feeling in his heart.

"Trust your instincts. This is one of the greatest treasures that spiritual power grants us," Master Pang Qian instructed.

"Understood, Master."

Their conversation caused no alarm among the others, for the individual seated beside Master Pang Qian was clearly also a Nian Neng practitioner~~ ．ㄧ ~．, while Yang Ying sat next to Lieutenant General Randolph. They were all high-ranking military figures who had long been aware of the matters discussed by the Master and Yang Ying; hearing them spoken aloud merely drew a couple of glances their way.

Seeing that the two had finished speaking, Randolph cleared his throat twice to draw Yang Ying's attention. "Young man, I owe you a great debt this time. If you hadn't saved half the city's population, preventing the complete annihilation of the Light of Titan, every senior officer within the entire Saturn orbit would be facing trouble. At least I am safe now, hah hah hah..."

Yang Ying merely watched him, offering no comment. Randolph laughed for a moment, found it tedious, and curtailed his amusement. "I saw you chatting quite happily with my niece upstairs just now. What do you think of her? Isn't she very beautiful?"

"Cough, cough..." A crisp cough sounded from Randolph's left side.

Randolph brushed it off casually. "Actually, my niece is impeccable in character and background. It's just that her standards are too high; she won't look twice at ordinary folks. But during the time you spent at the Central Air Conditioning Building, she praised you to me countless times."

A soft female voice interjected, "I mentioned it only once, not countless times."

Randolph immediately seized the opportunity. "See? My niece admits it."

Yang Ying burst out laughing. "Lieutenant General, are you trying to find a partner for Major Wen?"

"That's right," Randolph admitted outright, then swiftly denied it. "But this isn't my idea; her father asked me to help look around for someone suitable. Her father and I are old comrades-in-arms; his daughter is my daughter. Naturally, I have to give a little help with something like this. Having finally seen a glimmer of hope, how could I just let it slip away?"

"A glimmer of hope?" Yang Ying shook his head. "Lieutenant General, isn't that declaration a bit premature?"

"Not at all," Randolph said unconcernedly, his fox-like eyes gleaming with a subtle expression. "Young man, do you know why I'm telling you all this? I have never truly treated you as an outsider. I'll speak to her parents for you; consider it a reward for the meritorious service you rendered me."

Yang Ying knew that arguing with the shameless old man, Randolph, would only muddy the waters further. He decided to ignore the subject, changed his posture, rested his chin on his right hand, and distanced himself from Randolph’s verbal assault until the conference concluded.

As they exited, Wen Jing walked over and gave a slight bow. "I apologize. I didn't know Uncle Randolph would say such things. Please forgive any offense he caused you."

"Don't worry about it. That old man has no credibility; how much of what he says can be believed? Major Wen, you should treat this old man as background noise and not dwell on it. We shall meet again next time..."

In truth, although the female Major possessed a dashing, capable exterior and handled affairs with clear precision, Yang Ying hadn't been entirely unmoved by her presence. However, he was unsure of her feelings, and more pressingly, they were about to depart to hunt down the Ape-Men. He had no time to concern himself with such romantic matters.

He could only wait until their next meeting.

If fate allowed.

That evening, Wen Yang visited once more, sent by Master Pang Qian to deliver a package. Inside was a set of military protective gear, one light sword, and one laser rifle—essentially the standard allotment for a Nian Neng practitioner.

Although Yang Ying possessed weapons, they had been captured from the Ape-Men and differed slightly from human grips, always feeling somewhat unnatural to wield. Now, with equipment designed specifically for humans, he naturally prepared to change.

After Wen Yang left, Yang Ying gradually adjusted his mindset toward battle; he felt his blood beginning to boil.

Since the emergence of the Riflemen, Yang Ying had harbored a deep yearning for combat.

Starship Forge was not a farm producing vegetables and fruit, but warriors. Warriors only revealed their true worth and achieved progress amidst the fires of war; therefore, seizing an opportunity to train his troops was imperative.

Currently, the second barracks on the floating continent was nearing completion, and two new barracks had begun construction yesterday and today, respectively. The Riflemen would soon reach the scale of a small squad, meaning they possessed sufficient means for self-preservation unless they encountered a major Ape-Man force.

The next day, Yang Ying arrived at the city's northern exit.