Free Web NovelChapter 345: Chapter 345: The Feeling of Coming Home
Yu Mingche suddenly received a warning from the smart program, and the dazed, infatuated expression on his face from Ning Xuan’s teasing instantly sobered.
"Xuanyuan, something’s come up. I’ll handle it." Yu Mingche hurriedly got up, straightened his clothes, and tapped open the small screen on his watch, which was connected to the holographic projection panel in the main control room.
He quickly switched to the manual control procedure and notified Feng Linran and the others to take over the Starship’s defense and attack systems.
Ning Xuan watched as Yu Mingche quickly executed the commands, instantly crushing the external program that was attempting to intrude. Afterward, the smart system performed a quick self-check, promptly fixing some minor vulnerabilities.
Looking at the now-normal smart system, Yu Mingche decided against entering the Sa108 star system. He re-entered a set of data coordinates, and the Starship’s smart system began to replan its route.
After Yu Mingche adjusted the route several times, Ning Xuan and the others finally returned to the Central Star in the early hours of the next day.
A while ago, spatial rifts had appeared in multiple Star Domains, leaving many with insufficient medical resources. The commander of one such Star Domain, located near the Second Corps Headquarters, wanted to request Ning Xuan be temporarily reassigned to provide medical aid. It was at this moment that her stand-in puppet was exposed.
Yu Mingche had directly arranged a one-month leave for Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan was currently still on leave, so they could return directly to the Central Star.
The private Starship, the Purple Star, slowly landed on the private landing pad in front of Villa No. 17 on Qingluan Mountain. Ning Xuan gazed at the familiar scenery through the porthole, the corners of her mouth turning up unconsciously.
After being away for more than half a year, she had finally returned to this place she could call "home."
"Welcome home, Master." The villa’s main door opened automatically, and the smart butler, 17, spoke in a mechanical tone.
Ning Xuan looked at the holographic projection of a Phoenix inside the doorway and stepped through the entrance.
Inside the gates, Yan Fuzhen was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers. He led the attendants and guards who worked in the villa, who were lined up in two rows on either side to welcome her. Standing at the head of the attendants’ line was none other than Nine-tailed.
"We respectfully welcome the Family Head’s safe return." Yan Fuzhen was the first to bow and speak. The attendants and guards, split into two lines, congratulated her in unison, "We respectfully welcome the Family Head’s safe return."
Whether it was Yan Fuzhen and Nine-tailed, or the other attendants and guards, everyone’s face was brimming with smiles. This kind of genuine, ardent emotion was the easiest way to touch a person’s heart.
Ning Xuan could feel that these people were happy about her return.
The attendants and guards working in the villa were, of course, happy about her return from the bottom of their hearts. After all, Ning Xuan was an easy-to-please and very generous master. When she was at the villa, they could always feel the gentle, soothing spiritual power of the female Spirit Controller. She would also often reward the attendants or guards on duty with the medicine she concocted.
Yu Mingche, Yun Han, and Lin Mo stood behind Ning Xuan. Feng Linran stood behind Yu Mingche with another group of people.
"Housekeeper Yan, you’ve gone to a lot of trouble." Ning Xuan was quite touched by such a welcoming ceremony. ’This must be what they call a sense of ceremony.’
"You’re too kind, Family Head. Everyone has been waiting for you to come home." Yan Fuzhen stepped to the side, bowed slightly, and made a welcoming gesture.
As Ning Xuan stepped through the gate, the familiar courtyard and layout relaxed her. She first returned to her own courtyard to shower and change into comfortable loungewear—a soft, light blue knit sweater and casual pants. Once changed, she went out to the living room.
The holographic projector in the center of the living room was displaying a soothing interstellar landscape. On the coffee table next to the sofa was a fresh fruit platter arranged in the shape of a heart, filled with all her favorite types of fruit.
’This fruit platter must have been prepared by Nine-tailed.’ Ning Xuan looked around for the Half-beastman youth. "Where’s Nine-tailed?"
"Young Master Nine-tailed is in the kitchen, Family Head. He wishes to prepare a welcome feast for you," Yan Fuzhen replied as he served hot tea and pastries.
"These pastries are Young Master Nine-tailed’s newest creation. They were just baked this morning. Please, have a taste." During the time Ning Xuan was away traveling alone with her whereabouts hidden, Yan Fuzhen had lost sleep and appetite from worry. Now that he saw her return safely, his joy was beyond words.
About half an hour later, Yan Fuzhen invited Ning Xuan to move to the dining room to eat.
Just as she reached the dining room entrance, Ning Xuan smelled the aroma of roasted meat. ’Nine-tailed’s cooking skills seem to have improved again.’ The tempting scent made Ning Xuan’s mouth water unconsciously. ’After being away from home for half a year, how long has it been since I’ve tasted this familiar flavor?’
Arriving in the dining room, she found the table already laden with exquisite dishes: tantalizingly colored roasted meat seared by flames, iridescent seafood congee simmered over a low fire, and specially-made pastries of intricate design. Their appearance alone was enough to make one’s appetite stir.
Yun Han set out Ning Xuan’s plate and utensils, and Lin Mo pulled out her chair. Yu Mingche approached with a crystal decanter filled with a blue beverage. "Nine-tailed said this is a sparkling wine he prepared for you using Blue Crystal Juice. Please have a taste."
Yu Mingche poured the sparkling wine into a small crystal glass and handed it to Ning Xuan.
Ning Xuan took the glass and took a sip. The flavor was rich and mellow. A sweetness mixed with a slight tartness blossomed on her tongue, leaving a fragrant aftertaste. It was surprisingly good.
Just then, Nine-tailed walked in carrying the final dish: a large, steaming platter of Star Beast Meat roasted with special spices, garnished with small, glowing mushrooms. The aroma was overwhelming.
"You’ve worked hard, Nine-tailed. Everyone, sit down and eat with us," Ning Xuan said.
At first, Yan Fuzhen and Feng Linran refused to sit down. But at Ning Xuan’s insistence, Yan Fuzhen eventually took the seat of the co-host, where he could easily get up to serve tea and water. Feng Linran sat next to Yan Fuzhen to assist him.
Yun Han and Yu Mingche sat on either side of Ning Xuan, with Lin Mo and Nine-tailed further down. Everyone quietly paid attention to Ning Xuan’s preferences. Her every glance and the slightest change in her expression were caught by the others, so they could provide the most attentive service.
Ning Xuan felt that the entire meal was perfectly comfortable and considerate. When she was in the military, aside from her time on the recruitment ship and during the three-month training period, she had always had people to take care of her. However, that kind of care couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as what she was enjoying now.
’Is this what it feels like to be home?’
Ning Xuan returned to her courtyard and sat down under the Soul Nourishing Wood, which was only as thick as a little finger. She then summoned her second awakened Companion Spirit.
Ning Xuan looked at the Little Dragon coiled in her palm, hesitating. She was debating whether she should go to the information center to look up information on her second Companion Spirit.
Ning Xuan wanted to know what Level this Little Dragon was.
