Chapter 216
In the vast expanse of the universe, a spaceship approached Prison Star from the distance.
“Dad, Dad, look!” Mu Bao leaned against the glass window, pointing at the planet wrapped in a blood mist. “Is that Prison Star?”
Mu Yuncheng reached out to gently pat his son’s head. His loving gaze faltered slightly when he noticed the boy’s stiff, straight legs, and a pang of pain flashed through his heart. Quickly, he looked back out the window.
“Yes, that planet is our destination,” he nodded, his eyes filled with hope as he stared at Prison Star.
Their journey had taken longer than expected. There were also some minor obstacles when applying for entry to Prison Star, but they had managed to resolve everything in the end.
“Do you think that caretaker Su can really cure me?” Mu Bao pressed his face against the window, staring at the planet that was growing larger in view.
He didn’t know why, but looking at the planet shrouded in crimson mist—despite its eerie, unsettling, and ominous appearance—he felt an inexplicable sense of closeness welling up from deep inside him.
He wanted to set foot on this planet, to see what it was that seemed to be drawing him so strongly.
Mu Yuncheng, consumed with worry over his son’s illness, failed to notice this feeling. Instead, he glanced down at his son and said with firm conviction, “He definitely can!”
Even if he had doubts in his heart, he couldn’t let them show in front of his son.
“When we get to the nursery, you have to listen to the caretaker and get along well with the other children, understand?” Mu Yuncheng instructed.
“Okay!”
Mu Bao nodded, then hesitated and looked up at his father. Uncertain, he asked, “Dad, do you think they’ll like me?”
His bloodline had awakened in preschool. Not only had his limbs transformed into branches, but his hair had also turned into green vines with leaves. Although he had harmed no one, his transformation had terrified the other children.
The friends he used to play with started avoiding him, even calling him a monster. Heartbroken, Mu Bao stopped attending preschool altogether.
Even outdoors, whenever his body transformed into its plant-like form, it would attract onlookers who pointed, whispered, and even took pictures and videos. Over time, Mu Bao began refusing to go outside.
Eventually, his parents decided to move to Mu Papa Star, a planet inhabited by the Wood-type race. While there were other humans living there, they were closely connected to the Wood-type race and found plant-like transformations unremarkable. Being around them helped Mu Bao’s emotional state improve somewhat.
However, the previous experiences had left him with deep psychological scars.
Mu Yuncheng was well aware of all this.
He couldn’t guarantee how the other children would treat Mu Bao, so he could only reassure him: “If you treat them sincerely, they’ll accept you.”
Mu Bao nodded obediently but continued staring at the blood-red planet. The unease in his eyes hadn’t entirely disappeared.
Mu Yuncheng sighed, instructing the robot nanny to watch over Mu Bao while he left the cabin.
Once outside, he entered a smaller room.
Inside, an ancient tree, nearly devoid of leaves, stood quietly in a cramped nutrient pod. Machines nearby continuously pumped nutrient solutions into the pod.
The room’s ceiling mimicked natural light, and a gentle breeze circulated to ensure fresh air.
Despite all these efforts, the old tree’s condition had worsened day by day. Its few remaining leaves had fallen, and it had entered dormancy about a month ago.
Mu Yuncheng gazed at the tree, guilt and sorrow flooding his heart.
The ancestral elder’s life was nearing its end. He hadn’t been able to find their home planet, and now, in the elder’s final days, they were still journeying and toiling so arduously…
Covering his face with his hands, Mu Yuncheng sat down beside the tree.
He didn’t know how much time they had left, but he wanted to spend what remained by the elder’s side.
The spaceship continued its approach to Prison Star.
Finally, after piercing through the thick blood mist, it successfully landed on the planet.
Through the window, Mu Yuncheng observed the scenery below. It was no wonder the Star Alliance repeatedly emphasized that this planet was unsuitable for plant life. From above, hardly any vegetation could be seen.
Of course, it might also be because the dense red mist obscured the view.
Upon entering Prison Star, Mu Yuncheng immediately noticed the effects of the pollutants that the Star Alliance liaison officer had repeatedly warned him about.
These pollutants were indeed formidable. Even he, after inhaling them, felt an unusual sense of irritability and emotional fluctuations.
He glanced at his son beside him and saw Mu Bao still leaning against the window, looking outside. However, the boy’s small hand was pressed against his chest.
Noticing his furrowed brow, Mu Yuncheng asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Bao Bao? Are you feeling unwell?”
Mu Bao hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I feel like my heart is beating really fast.”
Mu Yuncheng grew anxious and was about to call the robot for a check-up, but Mu Bao shook his head. “Dad, I’m fine. I’m just… a little excited.”
He turned back to the window, his green eyes fixed on the scene outside, his emotions inexplicably heightened.
Mu Yuncheng considered the effects of the pollutants.
His son was likely being influenced. Even he himself felt his emotions were somewhat erratic.
Fortunately, they were already on Prison Star, and as long as they reached the human base, they would be in an area unaffected by the pollutants.
While Mu Yuncheng and his son were talking, in the small adjacent room, the dormant old tree suddenly stirred. Its roots, immersed in nutrient solution, shifted slightly.
*
To the east of Base 24, on the plains beneath the waterfall:
The waterfall poured down continuously, and the river flowed ceaselessly into the distance, forming a ribbon of water winding through the plains before disappearing into the far-off mountains.
After months of effort, this plain had been thoroughly purified. Now in autumn, much of the vegetation had withered. The peach grove planted later had shed all its leaves, yet evergreen plants still dotted the landscape.
By the riverbank, as per A-Yan’s plan, a small house had been constructed.
Due to the scarcity of wood, the house was built entirely from metal, inevitably adopting the base’s cold, industrial style. However, this was no challenge for A-Yan.
After engraving a few simple formations on the roof and walls, the house could change its appearance based on A-Yan’s thoughts. Ultimately, a warm and cozy wooden cottage came to life.
At this moment, the younglings were all crouched on the open space next to the cottage, staring intently at the roast chicken above the campfire.
As A-Yan rotated the spit, the chicken emitted an increasingly enticing aroma. Yet, despite their eager gazes, A-Yan said, “The chicken isn’t ready yet. You can eat some roasted sweet potatoes first.”
Using tongs, he pulled out the rice sweet potatoes that had been buried in the fire and were now fully roasted.
Lang Ze impatiently grabbed one, split it in half despite the heat, and a mouthwatering fragrance immediately filled the air.
“So good!” Lang Ze exclaimed loudly but couldn’t endure the heat. He hastily tossed the split sweet potato back onto the plate, his fingers already red and swollen.
Fortunately, Lu Jiao quickly conjured a block of ice for him to cool his fingers.
“It’s too hot. It needs to cool down before we can eat,” Lang Ze said regretfully.
“Then let’s wait a little longer,” Lu Jiao replied.
While they were barbecuing on one side, Yan Ya was flying kites with some of the girls on the other. Among them were Little Li Hua, Xue Wei, and the little sparrow soaring in the sky, as well as Qian Qian.
Under the constant care and comfort of her father, Lai Ze, Qian Qian’s bloodline berserk issues had significantly improved. She had now regained her human form, though traces of her beast-like characteristics still remained.
However, almost all the children at the nursery had similar issues, so she wasn’t unique. She quickly integrated into the group.
Compared to when she first arrived, she had become much more cheerful and still loved being in the midst of the younglings, playing along with everyone.
Amid this harmonious scene, Zheng Xing, who had been playing with a metal ball inside the small cottage, suddenly stood up and walked to the window, tilting his head to gaze at the sky.
The younglings flying kites stopped what they were doing as well.
In the distance, they saw a spaceship slowly approaching. As it drew nearer, it became larger and more distinct.
Which base’s spaceship was this?
Why was it coming to Base 24 at this time?
Under their watchful eyes, the spaceship didn’t head toward Base 24’s landing pad but continued forward. It flew to the plains beyond the river and landed on the opposite side.
This spaceship, of course, belonged to Mu Yuncheng and his group.
Originally, their ship was supposed to stop at a supply station, where Base 24 personnel would come to escort them. However, midway through the journey, Mu Yuncheng sensed something was off.
A strong intuition arose in his heart, as if a voice were calling out to him. When he discovered that Mu Bao felt the same, he decisively ordered the pilot to deviate from their original route.
The pilot, a member of the Wood-type race, though lacking an awakened bloodline, followed the clan leader’s command.
Finally, they arrived at this vast plain.
Along the way, they had seen the desolation of this planet. Passing by several human bases, there was hardly any greenery. They never expected to find such a lush area on this planet.
“This… this place is…”
A trembling, ancient voice sounded beside Mu Yuncheng. He turned his head and saw that the ancestral elder, who had been dormant, had somehow emerged. The elder had shrunk in size and transformed into a miniature bonsai.
It was the first time Mu Yuncheng had heard the elder speak in such an excited and elated tone.
He was about to explain that this was Prison Star when the old tree’s voice interrupted him.
“Child, this… this is the mother planet, isn’t it? You’ve found it, haven’t you?”
Mu Yuncheng froze. “The mother planet? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
This was Prison Star, a place the Star Alliance used to imprison interstellar criminals. How could it possibly be the mother planet—the origin of all interstellar humanity?
“There’s no mistake, no mistake at all!” The old tree was so excited it could barely contain itself. “I must go down! I need to set foot on the ground!”
Under the old tree’s urging, Mu Yuncheng had no choice but to instruct the spaceship to make an emergency landing. Coincidentally, he also noticed signs of activity along the riverbank.
Finally, the spaceship touched down.
Mu Yuncheng was the first to step off the ship, holding the miniature bonsai in his hands. Mu Bao, seated in his hover wheelchair, followed closely behind.
“Ancestor, is this really the mother planet?”
As his feet touched the ground, an indescribable feeling arose within Mu Yuncheng, so much so that he couldn’t help but start to doubt himself.
Yet, deep down, he couldn’t shake how absurd it all seemed.
How could this planet, originally designated as a prison for interstellar criminals, possibly be the mother planet they had been searching for over hundreds of years?
However, the old tree, who had been so ecstatic just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.
Just as Mu Yuncheng was about to ask, he noticed movement across the river near the small house. A figure, previously lounging lazily on a deck chair, slowly sat up and turned to look in their direction.
In the next moment, the figure flickered and vanished. Mu Yuncheng blinked, only to find the young man—dressed in a gray-blue uniform—standing just a few steps away from him.
The sight of the youth stunned Mu Yuncheng. The young man’s beauty was so striking that even he was momentarily awestruck. But, inexplicably, Mu Yuncheng also felt a deep sense of familiarity and reverence well up inside him.
While he stood there, unsure of what to say, a rich floral fragrance suddenly filled the air.
This scent…
He instinctively lowered his head and was shocked to discover—
The miniature bonsai in his hands, the old tree that had been nearly bare of leaves, was now fully covered in lush greenery. Not only that, but snow-white flowers were blooming profusely all over it.
This… what was happening?
