After traveling at warp speed, they were getting closer to their destination.

Qiao Yi glanced at the coordinates on the screen and turned to He Qing and the others. “We’ll reach our destination in two days. Let’s switch to autopilot and take a break.”

“Mm.” He Qing calculated the time, thinking how warp speed was incredibly fast—even faster than high-level cultivators.

He swiped the holographic screen and activated autopilot.

Ding! Switching to autopilot mode.

Zhang Lin quietly let out a breath of relief, while Zhang Yi rushed over to massage his shoulders, showering him with praise. “Bro, you were amazing!”

He Qing tilted his head, and Qiao Yi did the same, looking at Zhang Yi.

“Haha… you guys did great too. We’ll go rest now,” Zhang Yi said, quickly pulling Zhang Lin up and scurrying away.

Qiao Yi stretched lazily and glanced at He Qing, who remained unusually calm. “Have you ever flown a spaceship before?”

“I’ve piloted ships before,” He Qing said, recalling his old flying vessel and feeling a pang of regret. “But then it exploded.” His magical artifact had been reduced to fragments.

“Hahaha,” Qiao Yi laughed, assuming he was joking. “If this spaceship explodes, we’d have nowhere to run. You’d better hope we don’t hit an asteroid.”

“Amitabha,” He Qing smiled. “If that happens, I guess we’ll meet again in our next life.”

“Dark humor,” Qiao Yi grimaced in mock disgust. “If there’s a next life, I don’t want to teach you little brats again—always getting into trouble.” He suddenly shifted tone and grabbed He Qing’s shoulder. “Now, tell me, did you guys know that watermelon wasn’t ripe that night?”

He Qing blinked, smoothly dodging the question. “But, Mentor, your watermelon was very sweet and ripe.”

“Not very honest,” Qiao Yi patted his shoulder. “I’d love to see Duan Chenhui’s reaction if he saw you like this. He’d be shocked for sure.”

He Qing stood up and raised his pinky finger. “I guess I still don’t fully trust you, Mentor. Pinky promise that you won’t tell the General.”

“Childish,” Qiao Yi muttered, though he still hooked his pinky with He Qing’s. Afterward, a chill ran down his spine. He stared at He Qing, who was all smiles. There was definitely something mischievous about this student of his.

He Qing clasped his hands together and bowed slightly. “Thank you, Mentor.” While making contact with Qiao Yi, he had silently cast a Silencing Spell. Any mention of the incident would now trigger the spell, preventing him from speaking.

Sorry, Mentor, He Qing thought to himself, tapping a wooden fish in his mind.

“Whatever. Let’s go eat something. I’m starving,” Qiao Yi said, rubbing his chin and deciding to let it go for now.

—

Meanwhile, Zhang Lin and Zhang Yi sat in their room, staring at the herbs He Qing had given them, deep in thought.

Zhang Yi slapped a piece of paper on the table. “I tested the herbs with a machine while you guys were flying the ship. No poison.”

Zhang Lin picked up one of the herbs. “Then let’s eat.”

“How are we supposed to eat it?”

“Raw.”

Zhang Yi was incredulous. “Are you serious, bro?”

“Yes.” Zhang Lin grabbed a cup of water, popped the herb into his mouth, and swallowed it with a drink of water, acting like he was just taking medicine.

“…” Zhang Yi scratched his head. Clearly, he was the only normal one around here! Zhang Lin, He Qing, and even Uncle Qiao Yi were all a little off! With a sigh, Zhang Yi followed suit, stuffing the herb into his mouth and washing it down with tea.

As the most normal one, he could only quietly follow along.

After eating the herb, Zhang Yi patted his stomach. “Nothing’s happening yet. I guess it doesn’t work that fast.”

Zhang Lin set down his cup and looked up. “No matter what, it’s an opportunity.” Whether it worked or not was secondary.

“Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’m just overthinking it.” Zhang Yi gulped down the rest of his tea. “Let’s go eat something. If we stay hidden too long, they’ll come looking for us.”

“Mm.”

However, when they went out, they discovered something—He Qing and Qiao Yi hadn’t bothered waiting for them. They had eaten and left, leaving behind a pile of dishes and a note that read: Whoever finishes last washes the dishes.

He Qing’s note added: I cooked the food myself. Don’t waste it.

Zhang Yi’s temple throbbed as he glanced at the dishes left for them. “What is this?”

“Looks like koi.”

“?! Koi?! Can you even eat koi? I’ve never heard of that!”

“I guess?”

“…Might as well try it.” Zhang Yi sat down and took a bite. His conclusion? It tasted terrible! He Qing must be trying to poison them!

For the next two days, the Zhang brothers couldn’t stand the sight of meat and went vegetarian.

—

Two days later, the spaceship landed on the newly discovered habitable planet. He Qing’s paper clone stepped down the ramp, looking out at the vast forest ahead. Most of the trees had diameters of over a meter, their canopies blocking out the sun.

Qiao Yi walked ahead, giving them instructions. “Stay close to me and don’t wander off. We’ll meet up with the rest of the First Expedition Group first.”

“Yes,” Zhang Yi and Zhang Lin replied reluctantly, as Qiao Yi kept a watchful eye on them.

He Qing’s paper clone also obediently responded, but his real body had already used an invisibility spell and flown off on his sword.

Hovering on his flying sword, He Qing looked down at the forest below, holding a compass in his hand. The needle pointed to the left. He Qing followed its direction, soon sensing a trace of spiritual energy.

“Who would’ve thought there’d be a secret realm here… Has it linked to the cultivation world?”

Unable to figure it out, He Qing sped up, reaching the secret realm above a misty area. He put away his flying sword, clasped his hands together, and jumped down with a straight posture. As his body passed through the thick fog, he was suddenly sucked into a vortex.

Everything went dark, and He Qing found himself in a confined space. He touched his surroundings—it was narrow, and there was a faint floral scent in the air.

“??” He Qing suddenly realized he was trapped inside a flower bud. Since he was a flower himself, he decided against cutting it open with his sword.

He felt around the inner walls of the bud and found a crack. Using his strength, he pried the petals apart, and immediately a surge of demonic energy rushed at him.

Demonic cultivators?

He Qing’s heart raced. Peering through the gap, he saw a group of pitch-black, alien-like demonic creatures attacking a lone figure. The person wielded a half-broken greatsword, yet every swing unleashed a powerful aura, the blade tip radiating a flowing golden light of merit. One by one, the demonic creatures fell at his feet.

As expected of the God of War, He Qing thought in awe. A mortal able to wield a spiritual weapon was a rare sight indeed.

Duan Chenhui, after slaying the last demonic creature, stepped through the filthy black water and sharply turned his head. “Who’s there?”

Caught spying. He Qing looked around briefly before deciding to sit cross-legged inside the flower bud and start reciting the Heart Sutra. If he doesn’t move, I won’t move, he thought, but then he heard the sound of Duan Chenhui approaching.

He moved… I’m still not moving.

He Qing closed his eyes, but then he heard the heavy sword being raised, ready to strike down. He quickly opened his eyes and shouted, “General, spare the flower!” That greatsword was a heavenly item, and it would definitely slice him in half. If that happened, he’d be a crippled lotus!

Duan Chenhui halted the blade, planting it into the ground. “Come out.”

He Qing patted his face, realizing he had put on a mask again. He tapped the petals. “Open sesame.”

“…” Duan Chenhui’s lips twitched slightly as he watched the flower bud slowly open, releasing a delicate fragrance. A moment later, the bloom fully revealed the person sitting inside.

The man, with pale hair and green eyes, sitting cross-legged within the flower, was none other than “Mr. He.”

“It’s you?” Duan Chenhui’s pupils contracted in surprise.

“General Duan, long time no see.” He Qing stood up, pretending as if he hadn’t seen his nominal husband in ages.