Chapter 552

Fang Qi felt utterly melancholy.

What was the meaning of life, anyway?

In the end, everything would be reduced to various elements and return to nature.

To Earth—to this sea of stars—a person’s existence…

What meaning did it have?

He stared blankly.

It seemed to have no meaning at all.

A few decades, on the scale of the universe…

It wasn’t even worth calling an instant.

Earth would make several dozen revolutions, while the sun traveled only a negligible distance around the Milky Way.

And then that person would be gone—just like that, gone with a snap.

As if they had never existed at all…

Sigh.

He sighed again.

Speaking of which, before he transmigrated, he had always said—

“If I can’t get a girlfriend like Liguang, I’ll never die!”

And so, he had become an immortal creature!

And now, he had actually gotten her.

Fang Qi blinked at the Milky Way.

Heh heh…

Mm.

Heh heh!

Though the process had been a little more tortuous, a little more painful, and he had died more times than he could remember…

He really had gotten her!

They had even gotten married and consummated their marriage!

Now, they were on their honeymoon!

They had built a little house on the sea together, gone fishing together, gazed at the stars together, and just now, they had even…

Ahem.

Fang Qi once again put on a solemn expression.

Then…

He continued gazing wistfully at the sea.

But he still didn’t want to die.

Now that he had found her, he wanted to live even more.

When he had been alone, “living forever” had merely been a joke.

But now that he had someone he wanted to be with forever, those words…

Had instead become an impossible obsession.

He looked at the calm surface of the sea, his vision gradually losing focus.

This was a digital world, where all things were woven from ones and zeroes.

But…

His lifespan was still limited, wasn’t it?

Where was his real body now?

How long could he continue living?

How long could his Liguang continue to exist?

How long…

Could they remain together?

Decades?

A hundred years?

Several hundred years?

To this starry sky, several hundred years…

Was nothing more than the blink of an eye.

Fang Qi lightly tapped his fingers against the wooden railing.

This time, he was truly contemplating the meaning of life.

The meaning of his own life.

He had already experienced the pain of losing Liguang before.

It had been fake, yet it had nearly driven him to the brink of collapse.

…He didn’t want to go through the real thing.

Even less did he want to become a handful of dust among the stars.

He wanted to witness the changing seas and shifting continents together with Liguang.

Human technology had already grown increasingly advanced.

In the future, humanity would build spaceships and set sail for the sea of stars.

He wanted to become one of those people, too.

He wanted to take Liguang with him—to see the real Milky Way, set foot on the soil of real alien worlds, and witness…

The day human civilization reached the stars.

But…

He stared blankly at the sea.

Would he live to see that day?

Could he?

…He didn’t know.

He felt somewhat powerless.

His entire body slowly slumped against the railing, his chin resting on his arms as his gaze went vacant.

He felt…

That he seemed to understand Twilight’s way of thinking now.

The limitations of human genes meant that immortality was impossible.

No matter how advanced technology became, the biological lifespan of a human being would ultimately have its limits.

Unless…

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

Unless there was mechanical ascension.

Abandoning this carbon-based shell built from genes and uploading one’s consciousness into an immortal machine.

Perhaps…

His brows drooped slightly.

Perhaps that would be humanity’s ultimate choice in the future.

The only truly feasible form of…

“Immortality.”

If an organization like Twilight existed in the real world, perhaps he really would join it.

Not for some grand ideal, much less for lofty notions like “the future of humanity.”

He knew he wasn’t cut out for that sort of thing.

That was something a genius like Lin You would have to accomplish.

As for him, he was merely selfishly…

Wanting to spend a little more time with Liguang.

A little more time.

To stay together forever.

Forever…

Forever…

The sea breeze brushed against his face, carrying a chill.

So cold…

…Really cold!

Fang Qi immediately shivered and came to his senses!

…?

Damn it!

He suddenly raised his hands—

“Smack! Smack!”

—and slapped himself hard across the cheeks!

The pain brought him even more fully awake!

He shook his head vigorously!

And then…

His entire person was left somewhat dazed.

Wait…

Why had he suddenly started seriously thinking about something like this?!

He normally wouldn’t even think about philosophical questions like these!

…All right, maybe he occasionally did ponder the meaning of life…

But…

He frowned slightly and rubbed his temples hard!

Just now, he had felt as though his entire being were about to ascend!

No…?!

What was going on?!

Why was he in such a strange state today…?

Was it because he was so full of energy this time that he had become more prone to wild thoughts?

Fang Qi shook his head hard again!

…There was no point in thinking about these questions anyway!

He was just a man who lived off his wife and had a thing for yanderes!

He…!

“What are you thinking about, Master?”

A gentle voice came from behind him.

Fang Qi: “!”

He immediately turned around!

A silver-haired girl stood behind him.

She was still wearing that ivory swimsuit, her silver hair drifting gently in the sea breeze.

She gazed at him quietly, a tender smile curling at the corners of her lips.

And on her fair collarbones and shoulders…

There were still a few faint red marks.

Fang Qi: “…”

Mm.

People really should focus more on enjoying the present.

“…Nothing.”

He shook his head and spoke softly.

“It’s just…”

“No matter what you’re thinking about, Master…”

The silver-haired girl cut him off before he could finish.

Her voice remained gentle, but her phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she looked toward the sea.

“Master should come back to his senses.”

…?

Fang Qi’s eyes trembled!

What was going on?!

He immediately turned around and followed her gaze toward the sea.

And then he saw…

Beneath the starlight, at the distant horizon where the sea and sky met, something was moving amid the rising and falling waves!

At first, they were only vague black shadows. But as they drew closer…

The starlight outlined the distinctive triangular shapes along their backs!

Fang Qi’s pupils suddenly contracted!

The fins cut through the calm surface of the sea, leaving behind clear white trails of foam!

He gripped the wooden railing tightly and leaned half his body over the edge, narrowing his eyes as he stared fixedly at the distant sea.

One.

Two.

Five.

Ten…!

There were so many!

At least a dozen shark fins!

Arranged in a fan-shaped formation, they cleaved through the shimmering starlight and silently yet swiftly closed in on their wooden raft!

He instantly held his breath, staring intently at the dozen or so triangular fins in the distance.

…What?!

Why were there so many?!

His scalp prickled.

He had spent the entire day fishing and had encountered only one shark!

But now, as soon as night fell…?

“Liguang, this…!”

“They’re sharks.”

Beside him, the silver-haired girl’s voice was relaxed and utterly calm.

Fang Qi: “…”

He turned his head toward Liguang, who was leaning against the railing beside him with a leisurely expression.

Of course I know they’re sharks!

But…!

He shook his head fiercely!

“Smack!”

Once again, he slapped both cheeks hard with his hands!

Come to your senses…

Wake up!

What meaning of existence? What future for humanity? What mechanical ascension and immortality…

To hell with all of it!

What did humanity’s future have to do with a kept man like him, anyway?!

Right now…!

He abruptly raised his head and looked toward the shark fins drawing closer and closer!

The sharks were attacking his and Liguang’s home!

He had to protect his precious little haven…

No, wait—his home on the sea!

Damn sharks!

“Liguang!”

He suddenly turned to the silver-haired girl beside him.

“What do we do now? Same as before—stab them with the pitchfork?!”

“If that’s the plan, then I’ll…!”

His gaze swept downward. The pitchfork he had used earlier was still stuck in the deck below!

It was the same one he had used to stab the first shark to death during the day. Shark blood still stained its tines!

…It could still be used!

Damn sharks. I’ll stab every last one of you!

“Master, you’re worrying too much!”

Liguang’s tone remained light and cheerful.

Fang Qi: “...?”

He turned his head and saw that she was still watching the shark fins approaching in the distance, the corners of her lips curled upward.

Then she turned to him with a bright smile.

“Master…”

She raised a hand and lightly tapped him on the chest.

“You’re really underestimating Liguang a little, you know?”

“Liguang actually—”

“Prepared for this a long time ago!”

As she spoke, her red eyes flickered, and she suddenly grabbed Fang Qi by the wrist.

“Come with me, Master!”

“Huh? Wait…!”

Before Fang Qi could react, she dragged him down the stairs from the second-floor terrace!

Her long silver ponytail swayed back and forth before his eyes, while her little feet pattered against the wooden steps!

The two of them hurried all the way down to the first floor!

Then Liguang released his hand, bent down, and scooped something up from the corner.

“Ta-da-da-da!”

She suddenly hoisted it over her head, proudly displaying it to Fang Qi!

Her pretty face was full of smug delight, and her red eyes flashed happily.

Fang Qi blinked as he stared at the object in Liguang’s hands.

Was that… a weapon?

A wooden shaft, with two sharp metal prongs firmly tied to the front!

At the back was a spring-like mechanism, along with a wooden trigger that could be pulled!

A long coil of rope trailed from the end of the weapon!

This was…

Fang Qi’s eyes widened.

A harpoon gun?!

Honey, when did you…?

“Master, this is a weapon Liguang made for you!”

The silver-haired girl held the harpoon gun out to Fang Qi with both hands.

She tilted up her little face, her amber eyes shining as she looked at him.

“Look. Pull this here…”

Her slender finger tapped the wooden trigger on the shaft.

“And the harpoon will shoot out with a whoosh!”

Her finger moved to the metal ring.

“Then, after you fire it, just pull this rope to retrieve the harpoon!”

She planted both hands on her hips and puffed out her chest.

“You can use it over and over again! Liguang is amazing, right?”

But Fang Qi did not take it from her immediately.

He looked at the harpoon gun, then at the smug little Crazy Girl standing before him.

Honey, did you already know something like this would happen…?

…Ah.

That’s right!

Those fish were “enemies.” They even possessed “authority.”

Earlier, he had eaten grouper, shark fins, tuna…

He had absorbed those “tonics” bite by bite, and his opponents had finally been unable to sit still!

He had pushed them too far!

They were launching a massive…

“Crunch!”

A harsh biting sound suddenly came from outside the raft!

Fang Qi’s pupils shrank.

Damn it!

There was no time to think!

“Liguang, give it to me!”

He snatched the harpoon gun from Liguang’s hands and turned, charging out of the cabin!

“Master, I’m coming too!”

Liguang followed close behind him!

The instant they rushed out of the cabin, Fang Qi saw—

The first shark had already clamped its mouth, filled with razor-sharp teeth, onto the edge of the deck!

“Creeeak, crunch—!”

The sound was grating to the ears!

Wood chips flew through the night air!

Fang Qi instinctively raised the harpoon gun, but…!

“Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!”

Several more sounds rang out!

One shark, then another, then a third…

The sharks surged out of the sea one after another. Right before Fang Qi’s eyes…

Every one of them bit down on the edge of the raft!

They surrounded the raft in a complete circle, each one seemingly having picked its spot as it tore into the deck with huge bites!

The grating sounds of their gnawing filled his ears!

Fang Qi: “...!!”

His entire body tensed, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

There were too many of them!

And they were spread out everywhere!

How was he supposed to…?

Ah!

His eyes sharpened, then his brow relaxed slightly.

It seemed like this might not be such a big problem…?

He had noticed something.

There were a lot of sharks, but…

They were all biting only the outermost edge of the raft’s deck!

And the raft was already enormous!

It was nearly a hundred square meters, with the cabin sitting securely in the very center.

There were nearly ten meters between the cabin and the edges the sharks were gnawing on!

So…

Fang Qi’s expression eased slightly.

For now, they couldn’t reach the house!

And besides…

Fang Qi tightened his grip on the harpoon gun and narrowed his eyes at the sharks savagely tearing into the edge of the deck.

How strange. They…

They only knew how to bite the deck.

Not a single one had climbed onto the raft, and none had even tried to leap out of the water to bite anyone.

Were these sharks…

Following Liguang’s “game rules”?

No wonder Liguang had expanded the raft so much while fishing…!

She…

“Go, Master!”

A clear cheer suddenly rang out behind him!

Fang Qi: “?”

He turned around and saw Liguang standing in the doorway of the cabin.

She was not holding any weapon. Both of her little hands were empty.

But the crimson in her red eyes flickered incessantly!

“Master is the strongest!”

She raised her little fists and waved them vigorously.

“Liguang believes you’ll definitely be able to drive them away! And besides…”

She giggled and pointed delicately at the sharks still gnawing away furiously.

“The rules haven’t changed, Master!”

“One shark is worth three fish!”

Fang Qi: “...?”

He looked at her empty little fists and blinked.

I’m the only one fighting?

Honey, you’re not going to…

…Oh!

His eyes flickered.

His wife couldn’t deal with these “fish.”

That tuna had nearly dragged her into the sea.

Fang Qi looked at the smiling Liguang before him, his feelings becoming a little complicated.

Crazy Girl, you really are such a little riddler.

Liguang seemed to see right through his thoughts. She blinked, and the corners of her lips curled upward.

“Master, Liguang won’t just sit around doing nothing.”

She immediately bent down and picked up a spare wooden plank from beside the cabin door.

“Liguang will help Master.”

Then, from somewhere, she produced a small hammer and waved it at Fang Qi.

“Master will take care of killing the enemies, and Liguang will repair and replace anything that gets damaged!”

“Master…”

She looked at Fang Qi, her expression serious.

“Together, we’ll protect our home!”

A fleeting flash of indistinct blue light passed through her amber eyes!

Fang Qi tightened his grip on the harpoon gun.

In his ears came the sharks’ “crunch, crunch” as they gnawed at the planks.

Before him stood Liguang, clutching a wooden board in one hand and a little hammer in the other.

Her smile was bright enough to illuminate the entire dark sea.

Fang Qi smiled too.

Good.

Of course it was good!

Of course…!

He spun around and raised the harpoon gun!

“Yeah!”

His voice drowned out the incessant clacking!

“Come on, Liguang! Let’s protect our home together!”

He narrowed his eyes and took aim at the first shark charging toward them.

And that shark…

Seemed to be looking at him?

Its gaze looked vicious!

“Look at you!”

“Getting excited!”

The raft defense battle was on!

This time…

He would be the one protecting his delicate, fish-fearing wife!

“Bang!”

The harpoon shot out!