Chapter 17: Mission Accomplished

If Wang Ye's actions had left Ye Jiadong furious, then Uncle Zhang's behavior wounded him deeply. As a father himself, he could understand, yet he could not accept it—not after years of friendship, not the betrayal, and certainly not the harm brought upon the daughter he cherished above all.

Ye Jiadong walked up to Uncle Zhang and gazed at his old friend in silence. They had weathered countless storms together, facing dangers time and again—so many that the count had faded from his memory. Each time, it had been this very friend who stood by his side, sharing every risk and every triumph.

He still could not believe that his friend would make such a choice.

The oppressive silence hung heavy over the scene. Han Feng stood quietly off to the side, observing the unfolding drama with a sigh. Placing himself in their shoes, he deeply empathized with Ye Jiadong and Ye Tianyi. Yet, this was a matter of family, and he was but a passing stranger, so he refrained from offering any comment. All he could do was wait, quietly, until the episode drew to a close.

Ye Jiadong remained silent for a long while before slowly turning away. He sighed, his mood desolate, his tone heavy. "Go," he said.

Uncle Zhang knew he could never earn forgiveness from his master and the young lady. He had already prepared himself for death. Hearing Ye Jiadong's words, he looked up in surprise, tears streaming down his weathered face.

Uncle Zhang rose slowly, bowed three times, then turned and walked away, leaning on his cane, his figure hunched and forlorn.

He left without a word—perhaps that was the tacit understanding between old friends.

Ye Tianyi had become a figure of tears. Han Feng, ever considerate, pulled a few tissues from his pocket and handed them to her.

Ye Jiadong watched Uncle Zhang's receding silhouette in silence. Memories of their shared past flickered before his eyes. With this farewell, it was likely forever.

He stood dazed for a moment, lost in thought. When he finally returned to himself, his face still bore a complex expression. He turned to Han Feng and said, "Young man, forgive us for making a spectacle of ourselves."

Han Feng shook his head.

"Thank you again for saving Tianyi. She is the apple of her mother's and my eye, our precious treasure. If anything had happened to her, it would have been the death of us both," Ye Jiadong said, smiling as he gently stroked Ye Tianyi's hair.

"So many things have happened, and it's thanks to you that Tianyi is safe. This is a token of our appreciation—please don't refuse it." Ye Jiadong pulled a white card from his pocket, its border adorned with golden filigree.

Han Feng recognized the card—it was a universal stored-value card issued by Starlight Bank, the largest commercial bank in the Dragon Republic. To transfer the star coins from the card, one simply needed to tap it against their personal portable computer, making it particularly convenient for situations where bank transfers were impractical.

Han Feng wanted to utter something noble, like, "I merely acted as any righteous person would—how could I accept a reward?" But his empty wallet rendered the words impossible.

---

His card system was a bottomless pit, ravenous as a glutton, and money meant more card draws, more draws meant greater strength, greater strength meant more wealth, more wealth meant even more draws. The cycle seemed much like the endless loop of herding sheep and raising children.

So, without a shred of shame, he accepted the card without so much as a token protest.

Ye Jiadong was pleased. Had Han Feng refused, it would have left him uneasy, as if he owed a debt he could never repay.

"Well, it's time for us to head back. Tianyi's mother is at home, worried sick. If you have the chance, do visit Dragon City," Ye Jiadong said, gentle and refined.

"If the opportunity comes, I shall certainly pay a visit," Han Feng replied.

"Han Feng, promise me—if you ever come to Dragon City, don't forget to contact me!" Ye Tianyi said at his side. "We're leaving now. Goodbye!"

"Alright, goodbye." Han Feng waved, watching their aircraft take off and gradually disappear from sight.

[Mission Complete: Rescue the Girl in Peril]

[Mission Evaluation: You rescued the girl kidnapped by pirates, uncovered their true motives, and ensured her safety. She has now returned to where she belongs.]

[Mission Reward: Calculating...]

[Reward Settlement: Card Points +5, Free Skill Point +1.]

Wow, the mission was settled, and he received a skill point. But what were these card points for? Still no prompt!

Another skill point meant he could level up a skill, but the purpose of card points remained a mystery. Perhaps once he accumulated enough, their use would become clear.

Han Feng pulled out the stored-value card Ye Jiadong had given him—it could be considered a supplementary reward for the mission.

He opened his portable computer, logged into his personal account, and tapped the card against the external reader.

[Beep] came the synthesized electronic sound as the star coins were transferred to his account.

Curious about the amount, Han Feng turned his gaze to the virtual screen.

---

"Stingy—only a million." Han Feng was briefly disappointed, thinking that such a wealthy man would give so little. "Wait, that's seven zeros after the one—ten million! How many card draws is that?"

A hundred times. Ye Jiadong truly was a generous soul.

His home had been battered beyond repair by the recent battle—hardly worth fixing. Now, with money in his pocket and real estate cheap in the lower districts, it hardly mattered if the house was destroyed.

Besides, it was unwise to linger—the battle scars would eventually be discovered, and the pirates' ship still sat nearby. If any enemies tracked him down, it would spell trouble.

He also reflected on the combat. During his fight with Barrow, the enemy had been just out of range of the sniper rifle. Had his shooting skills been better, with higher weapon proficiency, his range would have been longer, allowing him to dispatch Barrow from afar without ever letting him approach.

In the fight with Wang Ye, he had simply relied on his strength, speed, and the inherent skills of his cards to overpower him. His technique was lacking, which was why Wang Ye managed to kick him midair.

After weighing his options, Han Feng decided to relocate immediately, heading to the capital city of the planet, Stell City.

In Stell City, he could find mentors in martial arts and firearms, unlock the skill trees for both professions, and learn basic knowledge and skills to improve his abilities.

Though he could simultaneously unlock the Martial Artist and Gunsmith professions, he understood well the folly of overreaching. No one could master two primary professions at once. Even in his previous life, he had only begun to develop Martial Artist as a secondary profession after maxing out his abilities in the psychic branch.

Even with his current advantage—an extra skill point per card panel upgrade—he doubted he could fully develop both martial arts and firearms. He knew all too well the difficulty of maxing out a main profession.

Wielding a blade was far more satisfying than skulking behind a gun, so he would focus on martial arts as his primary profession, boosting his close-combat abilities, while using firearms as a supplement to cover his weaknesses.

Without hesitation, Han Feng, ever the free spirit, opened the garage, drove out his off-road vehicle, gathered weapons and supplies from the hidden chamber, and set fire to his battered home.

He dared not use the pirates' ship—it would surely attract pursuit—so he destroyed it as well, ending the matter for good.

With a roar, Han Feng's vehicle sped off, flames rising high behind him.