After returning from the Dark Beast Plane, Wei Huan stayed in the Void Space for two days. The first day was for forced rest, and the second was dedicated to studying the newly acquired 'Book of Death' and the Dark Source. It wasn't until the third day, once Mu Zhong had finalized all arrangements, that they officially initiated their return.
During this period, everyone—including Xiong Yi, who wasn't on the vehicle—was barred from returning to Blue Star. Wei Huan needed to catalog the resources before taking the next step. While they had sent word that they were safe, the outside world remained unaware of the sheer scale of their haul.
Now, fully organized and laden with massive amounts of supplies, Wei Huan and his team returned to the very place they had first entered the Challenge World.
---
Blue Star, Azure Dragon Legion, Challenge Room.
The "Challenge Room" was a new type of architectural space designed to manage Challengers safely, ensuring their transitions between worlds wouldn't cause collateral damage. Since its inception, street-side beacons had vanished in Daxia. Most citizens used private rooms or paid facilities monitored by professionals; if someone failed to return on time, rescue teams were dispatched.
Within the Azure Dragon Legion, one Challenge Room was unique. What started as a small room with a few tables had expanded into a massive facility capable of accommodating a thousand people. It was a high-security restricted zone, cordoned off for miles.
This afternoon, a shift change was underway. Staff meticulously cleaned the room, setting out fresh tea and pastries. Some areas were partitioned into lavish living suites. A female lieutenant pushed a cart into one such suite, replacing autumn clothes with thick winter attire. The master of this room had left when it was warm; now, temperatures were below freezing. Even if a Challenger's body could withstand the cold, returning to Blue Star meant blending back into the environment.
As she was putting away shoes, she heard a faint movement. In the silence, even the rustle of fabric was distinct.
"Is someone there?" she asked, turning around.
She froze. Standing there was a man in an attire completely alien to the Legion—a long black robe of exquisite, expensive texture that made him look tall, powerful, and imposing. On his head sat a crown of black thorns. But most striking was his face: severely disfigured, with skin melted into a twisted mass that revealed a terrifying gumline on one side.
The lieutenant suppressed a scream, quickly regaining her composure. She knew these scars weren't horrors to be feared; they were the medals of a great hero.
"Colonel Wei, you've returned!" she said with genuine joy. "The food and water are fresh, and I've set out winter clothes. Would you like to change?"
Wei Huan stood in the room, adjusting to the sudden transition. For a split second, the instincts of the Challenge World made him feel a surge of killing intent toward the stranger in his room, but he quickly suppressed it. "No need," he replied. "I'm leaving shortly."
As she left to contact headquarters, Wei Huan's system reactivated. A virtual light swept over him, projecting a camouflage over his facial injuries and transforming his pseudo-Divine/Diamond-grade robes into a standard Legion uniform. He stowed the Ring of Mofidi into his spatial storage and stepped out.
In the hallway, he met Mu Zhong, who had just exited the adjacent room. Clad in his virtual uniform, Mu Zhong looked as elegant as a "jade tree in a forest." Wei Huan remembered seeing him speak at the academy years ago—tall, handsome, with eyes full of resolve.
"What's the plan?" Mu Zhong asked, stepping close.
"Gather everyone," Wei Huan said.
---
Outside, the air was biting. Thick clouds hung low, though the base was swept clean of snow. Within minutes, over nine hundred crew members—combatants, researchers, and scholars—had formed disciplined ranks. Only Elder Ju stood apart, though he remained present for the occasion. Except for Dou Lin, whose beacon was still missing, and Yake, whose beacon remained in Aosam, the entire team was accounted for.
This was the moment of honor. Every person, whether they fought on the front lines or managed the ship's logistics, was an indispensable part of the glory.
Commander Chai and several top generals arrived immediately. "Wei Huan!" Chai laughed, shaking his hand with fervent warmth. After a brief greeting, Wei Huan and Mu Zhong joined Chai in his car, heading toward the administrative building.
Once in a private office, Mu Zhong handed the resource manifest to Commander Chai.
When Chai eventually stepped out of the car again, he looked like a schoolboy in love. He had a permanent silly grin on his face. Whenever someone spoke to him, he would chuckle first, then ask, "Haha, what did you say? Say it again? Hehe..."
This "contagious silliness" spread rapidly. Soon, everyone in the Azure Dragon headquarters was wearing a dazed, happy expression. It was a day of overtime, but no one minded. The news grew wings, spreading through the upper echelons of Daxia like a festive wildfire.
---
By evening, as citizens left schools and offices, they noticed the dark clouds parting to reveal a warm, red sun.
Mu Zhong and Wei Huan didn't stay long at the base. Mu Zhong's cousin took over the logistics handover, and both young men were eager to get home. They were warmly "escorted" out by the generals.
"Go home and rest," Commander Chai told them. "Get ready for the commissioning ceremony in three days. It won't just be a Daxia rank; it's a global appointment for the Blue Star Alliance. Generals from all over the world will be there. We need to show our strength. You are our pillar, the treasure of our nation. When it's time to draw the sword, we draw it."
He added quietly to Mu Zhong, "The resources you brought back are enough to finalize our leverage over the other nations. We must be cautious."
As the car drove away, Commander Chai continued to smile. Being the "Big Brother" of Blue Star wasn't easy, especially with nations like Aosam trying to make things difficult. But the haul Wei Huan brought back changed the game. It wasn't about being a charity; it was about the difference between a full wallet and an empty one. Daxia was ready to fly.
---
In the car, Mu Zhong told Wei Huan about his father, Wei Jinhong. Mu Huaiguo had called to explain that he had settled the man in the General's Manor intended for the couple.
"What do you think?" Mu Zhong asked. "Is my grandfather's arrangement okay?"
"I don't want to see him," Wei Huan said.
Mu Zhong smiled. "The General's Manor is wherever you live. If you don't go there, it's just a name for a house."
Wei Huan nodded. He understood the elder's wisdom. Wei Jinhong was effectively under house arrest in a gilded cage. It gave everyone "face" while keeping the nuisance out of the way.
"Aosam thinks they can bottleneck us with their resources," Mu Zhong noted.
"They'll soon realize that while the rest of the world takes off, they're the ones standing still."
Wei Huan agreed. "Internal strife is the greatest waste. The issues with Yake' beacon and the Xu family should end now."
"Old Hodgson is smart," Mu Zhong said. "If he fumbles, someone younger will step up. The Aosam generals like Josh Meyer know that in the Sequence 6 world, we must cooperate to survive. It's an unstoppable trend."
---
They arrived at the military housing complex. Mu Zhong stopped their attendants from coming up. "Home" was a place for family, no matter how small.
Inside, the house was quiet.
"Mu Xi is at kindergarten, and my mom is picking her up," Mu Zhong said, rolling up his sleeves. "I'll cook something. I learned a few things from Liu Chengzhi. What do you want to eat?"
Wei Huan followed him into the kitchen. "I'll wash the vegetables."
As he peeled garlic, the sizzle of the pan filled the room with the "smoke and fire" of the mortal world—the scent of a real home. When Zhou Xian returned with little Mu Xi, she found the two of them working together like a young married couple, laughing and chatting.
"Mama, the brothers are home!" Mu Xi cheered.
"Did you say hello, Xixi? Go help them. Our Xixi is very capable now; she can peel garlic and peas," Zhou Xian smiled.
Wei Huan laughed and picked up the little girl. The laughter merged with the kitchen steam, forming a scene common to any ordinary family on Blue Star.
That evening, many high-ranking visitors came by—Elder Mu, government officials, and heads of departments. They chatted, shared tea, and discussed business briefly before leaving.
Elder Mu was the last to go. As Wei Huan and Mu Zhong walked him to his car, the old man smiled. "I've seen the resources. I let some info leak already. I imagine some people won't sleep tonight. It's funny—if they had waited one more day to push us, it wouldn't have ended like this."
Mu Zhong replied, "Fine wine for friends, swords for enemies. They chose their path; now they pay the price."
Elder Mu nodded, looking at Mu Zhong. "I used to worry your brilliance would burn you out, but you survived your ordeal, and now your blessing has come. Cherish the person who changed your fate."
Mu Zhong turned to Wei Huan and smiled. "I'm glad for the ordeal, because it led me to him."
Wei Huan didn't say anything, but a gentle smile touched his lips as he looked deeply at Mu Zhong. He, too, was glad to be in a world that had Mu Zhong in it.
They were both doing very well.