Skyfire Avenue - Chapter 704

Chapter 704

Chapter 704: No Way

“Do I know him?” Lan Jue asked his brother .

“Figure it out yourself!” Lan Jue curtly replied .

Lan Jue’s face stiffened . “I really don’t mind flipping off a fleet admiral . ”

“See if you keep your finger . ” Lan Qing taunted .

“Whatever . ”

The hotel’s lobby was small and simple . From the chipped floorboards to the stained counter and creaky stairs, the place looked like it’d seen better days . In truth Luo City was already a hundred years old, but this place seemed older .

An elderly receptionist stood behind the counter . While the others waited, their taxi driver walked over to handle check-in . Lan Jue took the opportunity to look around .

“This stuff looks like it’s half a century old,” Mika quipped . “Very Western . I can’t even tell when some of this stuff was made . ”

The taxi driver was back quickly, and heard Mika’s comment . “The owners are descended from Western royalty . Something in their past forced them to immigrate to the North . It’s always difficult to leave your homeland, so they brought their furnishings with them . Everything in this place are antiques and family heirlooms .

Perhaps for the first time in history, Lan Qing had words of praise . “Very interesting place . It has heart . ”

The driver sniffed . “Up to your specifications, is it?”

Everyone – Lan Jue included, gaped at the driver . Who was he that he could talk to Lan Qing that way?

The Fleet Admiral scowled but didn’t say anything . He took the key he offered and disappeared upstairs to his room . Lan Jue and the ladies were six remaining – seven including Qianlin . That meant four rooms were needed . The Pharmacist had her own . Lan Qing, it would be assumed, also had his own quarters . However they watched the taxi driver walk up the stairs and follow .

No way . Could this… was his brother coming out of the closet? No wonder he’d never had a girlfriend . If father knew, Lan Jue thought, he’d beat Lan Qing bloody .  1

Lan Jue told the others to get settled . He headed for Lan Qing’s room . When he arrived the door was closed, but he simply opened it and walked inside . Lan Qing was standing by the window and the taxi driver was at his side . Both men were staring out onto the street .

The room was as classically designed as the rest of the building, to the point where it felt like Lan Jue had stepped into the former era . It was strangely pleasant, a place where one could easily forget their worries .

However, Lan Jue was too distracted to appreciate it . Lan Qing accosted him . “What are you doing here instead of resting in your room?”

Of course Lan Jue couldn’t tell him what he was really doing – supervising . He tried to look nonchalant as he strolled over . “I just wanted to talk about the convention,” he lied .

“The meeting is the day after tomorrow,” Lan Qing replied . “I have the invitation letters prepared, you just need to show up . There’s nothing to talk about . ”

“Oh,” he stalled . “So… you’re spending the night here alone eh? It’s a nice room!”

Lan Qing finally turned around and looked at him . “Are you trying to say something?”

Lan Jue flashed a quick glance toward the mysterious taxi driver at his brother’s side . “Nothing, nothing . I’m, ehm, a little hungry . How about we grab a bite?”

The Eastern admiral scowled . “I’m not hungry, you go ahead . Why are you acting so strange…”

He was struggling to find reasons to stick around, and with his options dwindling just blurt it out . “Brother, th-there’s just some things that aren’t appropriate . Think of father!”

Lan Qing stared at him . “What inappropriate thing am I doing? Will you stop talking nonsense?”

Lan Jue looked at him, then pointedly at the driver . He tried to make it clear what he was referring to .

Lan Qing was indeed very smart . When he saw Lan Jue’s worried and accusatory expression a smile broke his cold façade . He turned his head away

The taxi driver was less amused . He caught Lan Jue’s look at glowered at him . “What are you trying to say?”

It was then Lan Jue heard it . Something wasn’t right – he sounded like a she!

A woman?

“I’m sorry – sorry! I didn’t mean anything . ” Lan Jue stumbled over his own tongue . Good, he thought, at least she’s a woman . It didn’t matter his brother was chasing cougars .

“I’m sorry to bother you two . Go on, don’t mind me, I’m leaving . ” He left the room fast as he could .

“Is there something wrong with your little brother’s head?” The taxi driver said in irritation . She picked off her hat and glasses to reveal a plain-looking man’s face . Her hands briefly covered the visage, and when they dropped the Astral Phantom’s bitter expression was revealed .

He smirked at her . “He’s just being nosey, don’t take it seriously . We need to focus on this meeting, it’s important . Everything’s been arranged?”

“Yes,” she answered flatly . There was absolutely no love lost between these two . Were it not for the mark on her soul, the Astral Phantom would have found a way to kill this irritating man a hundred thousand times . The bastard called her old! Women held grudges, especially against those who insulted their age . She wouldn’t soon forget his transgressions!

“Then go rest . I won’t need you until it’s time to convene . Find us the day after tomorrow,” Lan Qing ordered .

“Mnh . ” She grunted her response, then left .

Lan Qing allowed her disrespect . He didn’t need to dominate her, they had an agreement . Once the alien menace was dealt with she could go free, and that would be the end of it .

Aliens… planets .

Lan Qing’s heart sank . He’d gone over the North’s fight against the beasts a hundred times in his mind . He thought over and over about what he would have done differently .

What he’d told Lan Jue was only one part . Fighting in the Starfields wouldn’t impeded a Bastion’s combat abilities too much, though it would make retreat and reinforcements difficult .

The East’s Bastions were clearly inferior to the North’s . The East’s strongest ship was about equal to the fallen Arachnid . Tyrannosaurus was stronger than two of the East’s Bastions combined . If it came to war between the Alliances, he wasn’t sure who would win .

Only through more information and deeper understanding would their chances improve . Lan Qing needed to push his people to be like Star Division, that would serve them well .

Star Division would be integral in the coming fight .

ζ

When Lan Jue got back to his room, he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself . He really was a doomsayer! He retrieved a towel from Thor’s promise, then separated from Qianlin and wrapped her in it . He helped her put on some clothes .

It was torture for him every time .

The room was small, with only two single beds, a desk, and a single chair . Still Lan Jue liked it just fine . He was a fan of antiques . It wasn’t the Pharmacist’s Hall of Supreme Harmony, but it served .

Lan Jue coaxed Qianlin to the center of the room and had her cultivate . Meanwhile he arose and headed to the room next door to visit with the newest addition to the Avenue’s Paragon roster .

Knock-knock! He rapped his knuckles on her door .

“Come . ” The Pharmacist’s crystal-clear voice called from within . Lan Jue pushed his way in .

The Pharmacist sat on the bed, looking out the window . It was one of the rare moments he didn’t catch her cultivating . It was dusk on Luo, and the sun’s golden light bathed her room in a soft glow . It was beautiful .

He walked over to her . “Hey sis . Have you stabilized your powers?”

She quietly nodded in response . “Not a problem . ”

“Sis… you know, you shouldn’t take it so hard . We can’t bring back what is lost, but no matter what happens I’m going to help you get that sword back . ” His words were soft and sincere .

She answered with a pained laugh . “Who’d have thought my husband’s death would inspire my pure murderous rage . It’s what allowed me to merge with Occisus . For years I waited, only to learn the worst . I just can’t hold myself back any more . ”

Anxiety crept into Lan Jue’s face . “Sister, don’t do anything hasty!”

She shook her head, stood, and faced him . “If I go out one day and don’t come back, promise me you’ll look after Jun’er . ”

Lan Jue froze . “I- Listen to me, don’t be rash . Your husband’s gone but you knew that all along, didn’t you? You knew you were fooling yourself to think he’d magically come back after so long . He’s gone, but you are still here, and you have Jun’er to care for . That little one already has to suffer the loss of her father, you’d deny her a mother as well? I’m sure she knows I’m not her real father, and if something were to happen to you I’m not sure her little heart could take it . If you want to go hunting aliens, fine – but you’ve only got two choices . Go alone but kill me first, or take me with you . You won’t die alone . ”

Lan Jue’s face was hard and resolute . He never looked away .

Water began to collect in the Pharmacist’s eyes, and she glared back with lips tight . “Why . Why do I have to suffer these disasters? Why was he chosen for that mission? All I ever wanted was to live happily with him and make a family! You know, I never went to see Jun’er after we went back to Skyfire . I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to control myself . She looks so much like her father…”

She stopped, her voice choked with emotion .