Chapter 18: Section 18 - Return to Base

Words : 1130 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

A Y-9 medium-sized transport aircraft from far away descended from the sky, and the moment its landing gear touched down on the runway of Aircrew Base 911, it kicked up a brief trail of white smoke before the aircraft stabilized and, after taxiing for several hundred meters, turned towards the apron. The Y-9 had become the most mainstream medium-range transport aircraft, cheap and cost-effective. This time it not only brought 20 tons of supplies but also two passengers who were hitching a ride with the wind. Seeing the two bald passengers carrying their carry-on bags, the deputy squadron leader of the "Genuine Fragrance" squadron, code-named "Devil Pepper," cheered, took big strides forward, and pounced on one of them, embracing him tightly. At that time, Yamada Yuhu's Z-9 armed helicopter brought back the unconscious Squadron Leader Chekhov and the grievously injured new recruit Chen Fei, whose fates were uncertain, making everyone's mood incredibly somber. To take down a Metallic Giant Dragon, Aircrew Base 911 paid an unimaginable price; these were achievements traded with lives. It wasn't until today that the two of them finally returned to the base unharmed, that the worries of the people dissipated completely. "Squadron Leader Chekhov, welcome back!" The other thirteen pilots lined up and saluted their Squadron Leader Chekhov in unison, one of them leaning on a crutch. "Mhm, Little Chili, long time no see, is everyone doing all right?" With one arm in a sling and unable to escape, Chekhov Leonidovich Ivanov was quietly greeted with a hug that was a little too firm. I, an old hand at Jianghu for more than forty years, consider all under heaven as strangers, eh? You I cannot afford to provoke! "All's well, Rookie, how are you recovering?" The short-haired lass Irinei Rusios extended her fist and thumped it unexpectedly against Chen Fei's chest. "Cough, cough, I'm, I'm okay!" Chen Fei rolled his eyes, barely spared by the punch after just recently having taken a magic potion that cost more than ten million Star Yuan. Lass, are you waiting to partake in the feast? "Phantosmia," this side effect still lingered, and there was no specific medicine that could cure it. The string of characters "A:\\>_" was always in his field of vision. However, as time passed, he grew accustomed to it and easily ignored it, so it didn't have much of an impact. "Take it easy, Irinei, he's not fully recovered yet. If he ends up bed-ridden again, who's it going to fall on?" At last, Big Bear spoke a word of fairness. When Chen Fei was brought aboard the International Medical Ship, his body was extremely frightening from head to toe, covered in blood. He had not a single piece of intact flesh, and it was truly a miracle that he had managed to cling to life. Now, the weakness and severe loss of vital energy in his body were unavoidable. Pilots were known for their robust physiques, and even without an injury, the slender Chen Fei couldn't withstand the short-haired girl's punches – one punch to the ground, never to rise again. "Mhm, you did a good job this time!" Irinei Rusios smiled awkwardly, changed her fist to an open palm, and patted Chen Fei. Though it couldn't compare to its original pristine condition, it was nonetheless restored to usability. After all, the content was what mattered most. Following Chief Mechanic Xiao into the hangar, the mechanics who were still bustling about paused in their work for a brief five-second salute, silently welcoming the newcomer, Chen Fei, back to the team. Indeed, the attitudes of the subordinates truly reflected their leader. Like Xiao Ming, each mechanic was silent and taciturn, quick to action rather than words. Chen Fei soon found that, other than having lost a set of work clothes, his technical manual had been returned, and not a single item was missing, including his tablet computer and its dedicated data cable that hadn't even warmed up yet. It was as if nothing had happened at all. Chen Fei continued his apprenticeship, using the data cable to reconnect all the aircraft in the hangar once again. Although he had acquired a strange post-visual symptom—an "A:\\>_"—it didn't affect him too much overall. After all, using magic potions from the Cangqiong Realm on a native of the Blue Star Realm was bound to result in some mismatches, leading to unexpected side effects. Such cases were not unusual. Compared to those with excessive hair growth, budding horns, tail sprouting, skin color changes, sharpened nails, elongated teeth, swelling into a ball, thinning to a stick, and other bizarre transformations, displaying a short string of characters was hardly an issue, as being brought back from death's brink was ultimately what mattered most. The casualties at Aircrew Base 911 were significant, with two MiG-28 jet fighters and three A-39 "Big Mouth Monster" light turboprop attack aircraft lost; the base's aerial combat strength had been reduced by a third. However, everyone seemed far from despondent—rather, they appeared quite cheerful! At lunch in the base canteen, Chen Fei discovered why: Pu Aihua was back at his part-time canteen job, using his spare time to make a little extra money for household expenses. He returned the "Magical Beast Eggs" (actually eggs of some unknown wild bird, or perhaps snake eggs), the grass nest, and the wooden box to Chen Fei. Stubborn as ever, he hadn't taken it back to deceive others again, but had returned it to its rightful owner. A bemused Chen Fei could only accept the inescapable gesture of goodwill when he heard Pu whispering sneakily after looking around, "Psst! Chen Fei, did you manage to find that 'thing'?" "That 'thing'? Which 'thing'?" Chen Fei was as confused as a monk at a loss—entirely befuddled. What in the world was this guy secretly hinting at? "You know, that 'thing'!" Pu Aihua was getting anxious, raising his voice a bit before startling and glancing around again, wary of being overheard. "How should I know what 'thing' you mean if you don't tell me?" Throwing his chopsticks into his plate, Chen Fei gave up on lunch, losing patience with this guy. When would he ever let up?! With gritted teeth, Pu Aihua leaned in close to Chen Fei's ear, speaking in a barely audible whisper, "You know... did you pick up any 'Metallic Dragon Shards'?" "Metallic Dragon Shards?" Chen Fei looked at Pu Aihua in surprise; before he could reply, Pu reached out a hand to cover his mouth. Hurriedly pushing the intrusive hand away, Chen Fei frowned in disdain and said, "What the hell are you trying to do?" -

Chapter 18: Section 18 - Return to Base

Comments (0)