Chapter 1679: Decision

Chapter 1679: Chapter 1679: Decision

After a moment of silence on both ends of the communication, He Chuan half-closed his eyes. Although he tried hard to maintain a good mental state, he still occasionally showed signs of fatigue during the call.

Seeing this, Shi Cang’s mood became more serious.

The old Marshal’s health...

Or rather, the old Marshal had been trying many things, taking many risks during this time... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Shi Cang looked at the old Marshal. The starry sky behind him was dark, with not a glimmer of light, but there was still light in Shi Cang’s eyes.

After a brief silence, Shi Cang said, "Marshal, we humans will definitely overcome the difficulties, we definitely will."

When he said this, his tone even carried a hint of excitement.

"I believe we can too." He Chuan opened his eyes, looked at Shi Cang’s face, and smiled. "With you in the Alliance, that day will certainly come."

Before the words were even fully spoken, He Chuan, standing beside the desk, swayed forward...

Shi Cang exclaimed, "Marshal..."

He Chuan quickly stretched out his hand, grasping the corner of the desk, then waved at Shi Cang, saying, "It’s nothing serious, it’s just a side effect of my enhanced spiritual power not being matched by my physical abilities."

Upon hearing this, Shi Cang felt even more worried inwardly.

Then.

After taking a few deep breaths and regaining his composure, He Chuan looked up at Shi Cang, his tone suddenly very serious and said, "Ah Cang..."

Shi Cang shuddered all over.

Since Shi Cang officially took over the Second Legion, He Chuan no longer called him by his nickname; every meeting was addressed very formally.

Shi Cang suddenly had a bad premonition.

Indeed—

In the next second, the old Marshal said solemnly, "After I depart, you and Chi will take over my work. I hope you will fully support Chi in steadily taking over the affairs of the Marshal Mansion."

Hearing this, Shi Cang’s fingertips trembled, "Marshal..."

Shi Cang is truly from the grassroots. He was born on a resource-scarce planet and made his way through the corpses of Star Beasts, becoming an Alliance admiral through courage and combat skills.

In fact, Shi Cang’s rise is even more inspiring than that of Admiral Bai Ji of the Sixth Legion.

However, Shi Cang reaching this point is also inseparable from the old Marshal He Chuan’s insightful recognition, guidance, and promotion.

Therefore, Shi Cang is truly a trusted member of the old Marshal’s core team.

He Chuan asked, "Can you do it?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Cang didn’t hesitate and nodded directly, "I can."

He Chuan heard this and looked at Shi Cang with a touch of affection in his eyes. Shi Cang is the same age as He Chuan’s eldest son; both were born in the same year. However, He Chuan’s eldest son had already sacrificed himself in the last Beast Tide.

Over the years, although Shi Cang has been He Chuan’s subordinate, he was treated like a real child, with great care and guidance.

After hearing Shi Cang’s promise, He Chuan’s tone became relaxed, saying, "You and Chi are both my children, and I am at ease with you."

Shi Cang looked up at He Chuan, with a hint of hope in his eyes, and asked, "Marshal, given the exact date of the upcoming Beast Tide attack, can our current technology determine it precisely?"

He Chuan shook his head, saying, "Still uncontrollable."

Upon hearing this, Shi Cang’s heart sank a few degrees. Then he asked again, "With our current technology, can we still not determine the specific location?"

He Chuan shook his head, saying, "We cannot."

Upon hearing this, Shi Cang became even more silent.

Then.

He Chuan said, "After settling the wounded warriors, you quickly lead your troops back, properly arrange the frontline defense of the Second Star System, and then lead the army to rendezvous with Shen Chi."

Shi Cang paused, "Marshal, is there no other way?"

He Chuan waved his hand, saying, "It’s not that there isn’t, but this is the best way. Once news of my death spreads, the Alliance may be in chaos."

Upon hearing those two words, Shi Cang’s heart tightened, "Marshal, can’t we wait? Maybe if we wait a bit longer, a solution will be found. Besides, they... they—seem uninterested in us humans; over the years, they only take the Crystal Core and ignore us humans."

"Ah Cang..." He Chuan sighed, saying, "Do you know where the difference lies between you and Chi?"

Shi Cang fell silent.

He Chuan said, "To this day, you still carry the naivety and romance of youth, not realizing that the unknown is our greatest danger. We should not have a beautiful yearning for everything unknown. Of course, no one cares about ants, but if a swarm of ants crawls on the dining table, eating and chewing, you will certainly not continue to tolerate them..."

Shi Cang pressed his lips together.

He Chuan continued, "Since we have gradually gained some understanding of crystal core excavation and usage, they will no longer allow humans to continue existing."

Shi Cang suddenly clenched his fists.

He paused for a moment and asked a question he had always held in his heart, "Marshal, what if we never touch the Crystal Core? If we don’t touch it, will we no longer encounter a cataclysmic crisis?"

He Chuan looked at Shi Cang and was not angry at these naive and idealistic words. Instead, a kind smile appeared on his face, and he softly said, "If we do not touch it, then, in this universe, there will eventually be no human beings."

Human reproduction is already fast, but it will never outpace Star Beasts. From the embryo to the legal adulthood of a human is enough for countless Star Beasts to breed-grow-breed... Moreover, the once-in-a-century Beast Tide crisis continues to reduce the human population.

Shi Cang’s fingers clenched again.

He Chuan smiled and said, "The difference is only a matter of time."

Shi Cang listened and found himself unable to refute it because it was the truth.

He Chuan said, "Since we now have the opportunity to do something, to attempt to relieve the crisis of the Beast Tide hanging over humanity, why not try?"

Shi Cang listened in silence.

He Chuan said, "Someone has to do it, if not me, then you, or someone else..."

Shi Cang’s heart was heavy. He opened his mouth and said, "Marshal, I understand."

He Chuan smiled, "This path has never been taken by anyone before, so let us try it, even if unsuccessful, it will pave the way for future generations."

"It might take a hundred, two hundred years... or even longer to achieve this goal."

"However, I believe it can be achieved, just as I believe in you and Chi, and in the younger generation of the Alliance."

As He Chuan said this, his tone became solemn again, "After I leave, have Admiral Bai Ji guard the frontline; not even the slightest mistake is allowed at the front."

Shi Cang said, "Yes."

"Alright." He Chuan looked deeply at Shi Cang’s face and then said, "You may leave now."

Shi Cang: "Marshal—"