The White Wolf Group The Loda Plains was the region furthest from the main base, occupying the largest landmass on Black Tower. The local people were bold and uninhibited; they existed in a state of detachment, neither resisting the Empire nor cooperating with it.
Unlike the Snow Mountain Tribe, they didn't fight against the mining operations, but unlike the Tide Sea Clan, they didn't assist either. Some tribespeople chose to "work" at the mines as independent contractors to earn wages and obtain the base's latest mental stabilizers. To them, it was less a political alliance and more a labor relationship where they could walk away at any time.
This independence stemmed from the fact that the Loda Tribe did not rely on Black Crystals to survive. Due to the flat terrain and high temperatures, a unique plant called Seabuckthorn Grass grew there—the same earthy-yellow plant Sang Ye had hidden in. It absorbed and purified energy from the Black Crystals, producing juicy fruits that sustained a special animal: the Seabuckthorn Sheep. In the resource-starved environment of Black Tower, the existence of such a cycle was a miracle.
Because of the vast hills and the distance from the base, the Loda Plains was the safest place for underground guides to hide their movements. It had naturally become the premier spot for smuggling. Underground guides would land here and then move stealthily to other regions—except for the Snow Mountains, which were too dangerous even for the most money-hungry smugglers.
…
Jiang Sili and Sang Ye waited in the distance among the Seabuckthorn Grass, avoiding the Loda settlement. Jiang Sili clearly didn't want to draw unnecessary attention.
From Sang Ye, Jiang Sili learned about the crisis that had just occurred in the Tide Sea. He frowned, deep in thought. In the distance, Jiang Zhaoyuan—the underground guide—emerged from a tent looking relaxed, indicating her mission was a success.
"It seems it's resolved," Jiang Sili noted. "I'll have them leave as soon as possible."
"Are you going back the same way?" Sang Ye asked suddenly. "Lin Changli is almost here."
She could feel the little Parasol Tree with the Mental Mark approaching. Lin Changli was following that mental compass and would find her shortly.
Jiang Sili stood up abruptly. "I will take them through a different route. Please do not mention this to him." His expression was so solemn that Sang Ye couldn't quite decipher his intent. She had assumed Lin Changli already knew about the illicit visits.
"It's not just about that," Jiang Sili shook his head, but offered no further explanation. "Night is falling. You can wait in the tents ahead; the Loda people won't refuse a guest."
Sang Ye watched them vanish toward the horizon like ghosts. Clad in her thin diving gear, which offered no protection against the plummeting nighttime temperatures of the plains, she sat alone in the yellow grass. Her red hair was a stark beacon in the twilight. She had no terminal, but she wasn't afraid. She knew someone would find her.
…
Before long, the air temperature began to rise. Sang Ye looked up to see the clouds burning a magnificent rose-red, curling into beautiful arcs like a sky on fire.
The Phoenix’s tail feathers trailed sparks, his plumage rustling in the wind as he soared high above, scanning the ground until he caught sight of the red hair. Sang Ye looked up at the stunned bird and laughed. She waved her hand as if calling a puppy, and the Phoenix dove toward her.
Before the bird even touched the ground, a figure leaped from its back, wrapping her in a fiery, desperate embrace. Sang Ye smelled the salt of the sea, the sweet scent of roasted chestnuts (he definitely used too much honey), and the clean fragrance of shower gel—a mix of scents that felt entirely safe.
For the first time, Sang Ye returned his touch, hugging him back. She felt Lin Changli trembling slightly. "Hey," she teased softly, "why so scared? Does a Marshal who has seen so many great battles actually get afraid?"
Lin Changli’s hand traced her spine, confirming her warmth. He murmured to himself, "You are different."
Lin Changli had brought her terminal, but it was severely corroded by the octopus mucus. They decided to head to the nearby Loda Plains sub-base for a replacement before returning home.
As they rode on the Phoenix’s back, Sang Ye burrowed into the thick, warm down. "How is Lilibet? Is the underwater forest okay?"
"Don't worry, the sea beasts aren't a threat anymore," Lin Changli said nonchalantly. "I 'disciplined' the ones in the shallow layers. Most of them have fled to the trenches and won't dare come up for a long time."
Sang Ye wanted to applaud his efficiency, but she was too exhausted. Hearing the reassuring news, she drifted into a deep sleep. Lin Changli watched her, his expression softening, his long lashes fluttering as he looked at her peaceful face.
…
In the distance, something moved. Lin Changli looked toward a point in the pitch-black night. A light warship coated in black stealth paint floated like a piece of paper, absorbing all light and sound. To most, it was invisible, but in the domain of an S-rank Sentinel's mental perception, it was stark.
He recognized the specific patterns in the stealth coating. It was a relic of an era long past—one that most new recruits wouldn't recognize.
That was the signature of the White Wolf Group, once the most famous interstellar pirates in the galaxy. Unlike other violent or cowardly pirate groups, the White Wolves were elusive. They stole resources to sell on the black market, recruited the most dangerous criminals, and accepted anonymous commissions to steal ancient treasures. They even followed expeditionary forces into new galaxies to scavenge from the spoils of war.
They were never caught—until Jiang Sili was cornered by Asu Ment.
The young, ambitious Major Asu Ment had pursued Jiang Sili alone into a galactic vortex, captured him, and copied the data of every member from his terminal while he was weakened. Jiang Sili surrendered the group's massive accumulated wealth and agreed to join the military, serving at the dangerous Zerg border to save the lives of the rest of the White Wolves.
Jiang Sili had been a top student at the Imperial Academy; his S-rank Teng-Snake was a treasure the military fought over. Yet, on the day of his graduation, he had vanished from the Capital Star to join the pirates. When he was finally arrested, Empress Lin Shuangxu, loath to waste his talent in a prison cell, accepted his terms.
Lin Changli had always known about the underground guides. Like Asu Ment, he turned a blind eye, knowing that pushing the natives too hard was bad for governance. But he hadn't expected the vanished White Wolves to be the ones providing the transport.
The White Wolves wouldn't risk coming to Black Tower just for a smuggler's fee. Lin Changli looked toward the Loda Plains mineral veins and thought of the "working" Loda tribesmen. He let out a knowing laugh. Jiang Sili's role was obvious. As an Imperial General, he might have to pretend he didn't know, but his loyalty clearly remained complex.
The Phoenix turned its long neck, looking at the stealth ship and then at the sleeping Sang Ye. It let out a very human sigh. "Be careful she isn't being used by someone," the bird whispered.
"Don't treat her like a child," Lin Changli said with certainty. "She is sharp and observant. She sees as much as we do. Believe in her judgment."
"You're that sure?"
Lin Changli nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."
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