Chapter 277: Extra (14)
Without much discussion, the children unanimously decided to return to Earth after the war ended.
They had been away from home for far too long, and every day, they missed everything about their homeland—not just the people but the very essence of the place.
At Xue Wei’s suggestion, Little Li Hua eventually met with Li Sinian and Yan Ya over the Star Network to calmly discuss her thoughts.
She explained how growing up on Earth had deeply shaped her, and after over two years on the interstellar battlefield, she realized how much she preferred the lifestyle there.
The outside world was exciting, but for her, it was a place to visit occasionally, not to settle down. Long-term, she wanted to stay on Earth.
Besides, even though the Wood Clan’s efforts had significantly restored Earth, there was still much work to be done. With her talent as a painter, Little Li Hua believed she could contribute meaningfully to its recovery.
Seeing how firm she was, Li Sinian ultimately had to relent.
After all, if they couldn’t even persuade their closest daughter, there was no hope of convincing Rong Heng, who was known for his resolute independence. Li Sinian didn’t want this issue to strain the bonds they had worked so hard to build with their children.
Besides, with the planetary teleportation arrays being established, traveling between Earth and the Tes Empire would soon be much easier—a thought Li Sinian clung to for solace.
While the Earth Squad eagerly planned their return, the leaders of the Interstellar Alliance had other ideas.
Every child in the Earth Squad was highly coveted—there wasn’t a nation that didn’t want them. As the war approached its end, more and more representatives tried to win them over.
Zheng Xing, who single-handedly elevated the Alliance Army’s combat capabilities to a new level, became the center of attention, receiving endless invitations from all sides.
While humanity had united to fight the interstellar monsters, once the existential crisis was resolved, old divisions between nations resurfaced, bringing back political rivalries and competition.
The children, however, rejected all attempts to recruit them. Zheng Xing was particularly unyielding, refusing to even meet with most representatives and staying out of sight.
Eventually, the Alliance leaders backed off, but they began keeping close surveillance on every member of the Earth Squad.
So, when the war ended and the leaders planned a grand medal ceremony to secure the children during the festivities, they were shocked to discover that—overnight—all the Earth Squad members had vanished without a trace.
*
Earth, Orphanage Rooftop
One by one, young figures appeared in the teleportation array on the rooftop. Using the teleportation orbs Su Su had given them, Lang Ze and his friends had escaped the Interstellar Alliance’s headquarters.
“We’re back!” Lang Ze cheered, throwing his arms in the air and jumping with excitement.
Though he had joined the Alliance Army out of gratitude, Lang Ze had never intended to sell his future to them—or any other nation.
Over a decade ago, they had already decided that they would dedicate their lives to protecting Earth and helping it flourish.
Caught up in his joy, Lang Ze vaulted over the rooftop railing and leapt toward the greenery below. Before he could land, the necklace on his chest emitted a soft glow.
By the time his feet touched the ground, he was enveloped in a micro-mecha suit, landing smoothly without injury.
The young Wood Clan children playing on the lawn froze, staring wide-eyed at the mecha-clad figure that had suddenly appeared.
“Hahaha! Don’t you remember me?”
Lang Ze deactivated the protective gear, revealing his familiar, infectious grin. “It’s me—your big brother Lang Ze!”
It didn’t take long for the shocked children to recognize him. His distinctive voice and carefree laughter erased all doubt, and they swarmed him with excited chatter.
“When did you come back, Brother Lang Ze?”
The scene turned chaotic, but Lang Ze handled it with ease. “I just got back, and look—I brought you gifts!”
Reaching into his storage pouch, he accidentally pulled out a black cat instead.
“It’s a kitty!” the children squealed in delight.
Seeing Zheng Xing bristle with irritation, Lang Ze hastily stuffed him back into the pouch and laughed awkwardly. “Oops, wrong one! These are your gifts!”
This time, he retrieved candies and handed them out, one for each child.
Meanwhile, Ran Lie and the others stayed on the rooftop, watching the commotion below without joining in. Instead, they descended the stairs to the third-floor caretaker dormitories.
However, Su Su and Brother A-Yan were nowhere to be found.
When they asked Xiao Zhi, they learned that shortly after the children had left for the frontlines, Su Su and A-Yan had gone traveling and hadn’t returned since.
Though a bit disappointed, the children took the news in stride. They were no longer the helpless young ones who depended on Su Su and Brother A-Yan for everything. As long as they remained on Earth, they knew they’d see them again eventually.
After visiting Wen Yan, Lai Ze, Mu Bao, Qian Qian, and the other guardians and friends who had stayed behind, the children finally returned to the orphanage.
Despite having their own homes on Earth now, after more than two years away, they all agreed to spend their first night back at the orphanage.
Even Little Li Hua, who had moved out of Xue Wei’s room into her own private space at twelve, chose to stay with the group that night.
Inside her little space, Little Li Hua had more than just the usual furniture—her artwork covered every surface. Even the walls were painted with her creations, which she would periodically repaint to make room for new ones.
On the interstellar battlefield, she lacked the conditions to indulge in her passion, and her hands had long been itching to create. As soon as she returned to the orphanage, she rushed to her room, eager to dive back into painting.
But when she opened the door, she froze in shock.
Her room wasn’t covered in dust as she had expected. Instead, it was filled to the brim with vibrant flowers—red, yellow, purple—every color imaginable.
Little Li Hua stood dumbfounded, staring at the breathtaking sight. Turning around, she saw Lang Ze standing at her doorway. Perched on his now broader shoulders was a black cat.
When their eyes met, Lang Ze flashed a dazzling smile.
“Do you like it?” he asked. “I asked Mu Bao to help me with this. And… it’s also to thank you for the medicine you gave Xing Xing. Oh, and—” He scratched the back of his head, looking a little shy. “I kept my childhood promise.”
Little Li Hua stared at him blankly for a moment before realization dawned.
Yes, she remembered now. As children, Lang Ze had promised her that when he grew up, he would fill her room with real flowers.
Her nose stung with emotion, and she felt tears welling up.
“I’d forgotten,” she admitted softly.
She wasn’t the little girl who used to treasure a single flower hairpin or an embroidered handkerchief as if they were priceless treasures. Over the years, she had received countless beautiful flowers, but this… this felt different.
Looking back at the colorful blossoms filling her room, Xiao Lihua’s lips curved into a smile.
She felt incredibly grateful for her decision to stay on Earth.
This was her true home.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Lang Ze peeked into the room, equally stunned by Mu Bao’s handiwork.
“They are,” Xiao Lihua nodded. “But the credit goes to Mu Bao. You’re just borrowing flowers to impress.”
“Borrowing flowers to impress? When did you start studying proverbs with Ran Lie?” Lang Ze asked, puzzled.
“It’s a saying!” Little Li Hua rolled her eyes.
“A saying? I don’t remember learning that one.”
“…”
Little Li Hua stared at him for a moment before smiling mischievously. “I’m going to tell Youyou.”
“Tell him what?” Lang Ze asked warily.
“That your knowledge of proverbs needs improvement.” Xiao Lihua grinned playfully.
Unfortunately for Lang Ze, Lu Jiao didn’t have time to deal with his antics.
The day after returning to Earth, Lu Jiao and Lu Li left again. Though they didn’t explain their purpose, Ran Lie and Lang Ze decided to tag along for safety.
Where Lang Ze went, Zheng Xing naturally followed. The rest of the children stayed behind on Earth.
In recent years, Su Su hadn’t mass-produced teleportation arrays, but he had taught the craft to Lai Qian Qian.
As an artifact master, Lai Qian Qian needed to understand basic formations, and teleportation arrays weren’t particularly difficult to learn. It had taken her ten years, but she finally mastered the skill.
While Lang Ze and the others were fighting on the frontlines, Lai Qian Qian had been busy creating teleportation array plates.
Thanks to her efforts, Earth was now connected to over thirty interstellar planets, including nearly every major interstellar nation.
With these arrays, Lu Li’s journey didn’t take long.
With Xiao Zhi’s help, he located his parents’ graves and obtained permission to relocate them.
Before leaving Earth, Lu Li had consulted with the Wood Clan elders about the proper rituals for moving graves. He meticulously followed their guidance and, a month later, returned to Earth with his parents’ urns, accompanied by his companions.
On the return voyage, Lu Li turned to Lu Jiao.
“Youyou, have you found the song you’ve been searching for?”
Lu Jiao froze for a moment, clearly caught off guard. Seeing the concern in Lu Li’s eyes, he hesitated before nodding. “Yes, I found it.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t seem to have much to do with my parents,” Lu Jiao admitted. “But I’ve learned to play it.”
“Then… can you play it for me when we get back?”
“I’m not very good at it,” Lu Jiao said, looking slightly embarrassed.
“That’s okay,” Lu Li reassured him. “You’ll get better the more you play.”
“What song?” Lang Ze suddenly leaned in, curious. “I want to hear it too!”
Lu Jiao hesitated. “I’ll play it for you when we’re back.”
“Why wait? You can play it now!” Lang Ze protested. “I brought a whole bunch of flutes. Which one do you want to use? I can lend you one.”
With that, Lang Ze pulled out at least five or six bamboo flutes.
After growing up, Lang Ze had learned flute-making from A-Yan and even experimented with creating flutes of different lengths and tones on his own. Though his creations weren’t as sophisticated as the artifact-grade flute A-Yan had given him, they were excellent for practice.
During their two years on the battlefield, Lang Ze had even taken on two apprentices and gifted them each a flute.
Faced with Lang Ze’s enthusiasm, Lu Jiao had no choice but to pick one flute and begin playing.
As the melody filled the ship, Lu Li, Lang Ze, and Zheng Xing listened attentively. Even Ran Lie sat up straighter, tilting his head slightly to better hear the tune.
Gradually, a look of serenity and relief appeared on Lu Jiao’s face, and the sound of the flute grew clearer and more melodious.
So what if he had no parents or relatives? He had the closest brothers and sisters anyone could ask for. In this world, no one was more important than them.
The spaceship continued its journey, carrying them steadily toward home…
