The Yun Gong was the main base of the space fleet, and returning here was like coming home.
Presided over by Mu Xingyu, the space station's staff organized a brief welcoming ceremony with many substantive speeches.
According to superior arrangements, the expedition team was to rest for a few days on the Yun Gong before returning to the ground in batches.
However, before everyone could settle in, Ou Zhanpeng received a notification summoning him to Mu Xingyu's office.
Hearing the news, everyone looked at Ou Zhanpeng with surprised eyes.
Not summoning Luo Tu, nor Liu Wenwen, but calling Ou Zhanpeng first – was there something going on?
Ling Xiao scratched his head vigorously, his face filled with a curious, gossipy expression. "You're not related to Old Mu either... Oh, I get it, it's through your Xu Qing, isn't it?"
"Don't talk nonsense!" Xu Qing glared at him displeasedly.
"Then it must be that Old Mu's daughter has taken a liking to your Fatty Ou!" Ling Xiao said with absolute certainty.
"You, with that foul mouth, have some decency!" Xu Qing nudged Ou Zhanpeng. "Go on."
Ou Zhanpeng nodded and floated away.
Ling Xiao couldn't resist teasing Xu Qing further. "Hey, keep an eye on your Fatty Ou. If someone snatches him away, you won't even have a place to cry!"
"Who'd want him!" Xu Qing rolled her eyes, feigning indifference. "I'll give him to you!"
"Hmph, I'm not into that type!" Ling Xiao pouted. "A woman with a full chest, a shapely back, and long legs is my ideal. How about it? Got any suitable ones to introduce?"
"Forget it!" Xu Qing continued packing. "I don't have the habit of pushing my own sisters into a pit of fire."
Ling Xiao immediately took offense. "Who are you calling a pit of fire?"
"Who else but you?" Liu Wenwen accused unceremoniously. "Qingqing, don't pay attention to him. People like him deserve to be single forever!"
This statement immediately resonated with many female soldiers, who quickly joined the chorus of condemnation against Ling Xiao, their words pouring out and giving the man no chance to speak.
Ling Xiao felt utterly wronged. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Hey, hey, why are you all so unable to take a joke? Hey, hey, don't hit... don't hit my face..."
While Ling Xiao was being tearfully accused by a group of female compatriots, Ou Zhanpeng knocked on Mu Xingyu's office door.
"You're here, have a seat," Mu Xingyu said.
Although there was little difference between sitting and standing in zero gravity, fixing one's position was more solemn than floating around haphazardly, and better suited for a serious scene.
The atmosphere, after all, was quite magical.
Ou Zhanpeng "sat" opposite Mu Xingyu. "Director, what are your instructions?"
After several years, Mu Xingyu looked much older, with streaks of white already appearing at his temples.
Recalling the dilapidated Yun Gong of the past and looking at the brand-new space station now, one could understand how much effort he had poured in over the past two years.
Mu Xingyu lightly swiped his finger, pressing down hard on the multimedia desktop. The office sealed itself layer by layer, and red warning lights illuminated the cabin door.
Ou Zhanpeng was immediately stunned. "Director, you're..."
Mu Xingyu's expression was serious, and his tone was earnest. "I've called you here today because of a special situation. Please understand that every word I say next is top secret and must not be revealed to anyone!"
Ou Zhanpeng immediately straightened up. "Director, please proceed."
"It's like this, five months ago... well, to be precise, around the time Jupiter was ignited, we received a mysterious signal from the edge of the solar system. After mobilizing personnel to decipher it, we obtained a coordinate and a countdown."
"A countdown?" Hearing this, Ou Zhanpeng immediately thought of the mysterious entity at the edge of the galaxy. But what was the point of a countdown?
"According to repeated calculations by the expert team, the coordinates we received are exactly the same as the ones you provided. Our analysis suggests that the countdown is not a good sign."
Ou Zhanpeng's mind was a bit chaotic. "Director, what does this mean..."
"The higher-ups want you to prepare as soon as possible. The Moon is working at full capacity. Once the spacecraft is ready, you will need to fly to the edge of the galaxy in the shortest possible time to make direct contact with that mysterious entity... We don't know what the mysterious entity wants. This mission is very difficult and dangerous, but you are the best person for it, without exception."
"I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Ou Zhanpeng agreed without hesitation. However, he immediately thought of the spacecraft. "How long is the countdown, ten years, or twenty years?"
"Neither," Mu Xingyu shook his head. "Only three years. There are currently two years and six months left."
"So short?" Ou Zhanpeng let out a soft exclamation, but he immediately realized something was wrong. "Has the spacecraft technology advanced again?"
The higher-ups wouldn't assign him to fly to the edge of the galaxy if they knew there wasn't enough time. Something must have happened that he didn't know about.
Mu Xingyu nodded. "There has indeed been a new breakthrough, but it's not enough, so we have to wait a while longer."
"Wait how long?"
Mu Xingyu pointed to the Moon outside the window. "When the Fallen Ship Mountain was conducting experiments, they accidentally found several sets of space jump equipment. One set went missing during an experiment. We are analyzing the others. As long as we find a way to control the jump equipment, we can create a true faster-than-light spaceship."
"I understand!" Ou Zhanpeng said.
"Don't be so tense. The experiments won't yield results that quickly. Since you're finally back, take some time to rest and recover your condition as soon as possible," Mu Xingyu said.
The expedition team had drifted in space for over two years. The prolonged zero gravity had significantly impacted everyone's physical condition, requiring a period of rehabilitation training.
This was also one of the main reasons why no personnel were selected from the expedition team for the third ship.
After the conversation ended, Ou Zhanpeng left with a heavy heart. After floating a short distance, he suddenly realized his state was not right. If he went back like this, wouldn't everyone see that he had something on his mind?
He patted his cheeks hard to make his complexion look a bit more ruddy, pushed all his worries aside, and put on a cheerful smile before returning to the cabin.
Although Ou Zhanpeng appeared to be fine on the surface, while he could fool strangers, Xu Qing and Ling Xiao could see at a glance that he had something on his mind. However, with so many comrades around, the two of them tacitly kept silent.
Only when they were alone did Ling Xiao quietly ask, "What did Old Mu want to see you about?"
Xu Qing immediately perked up her ears and looked over with wide eyes.
Ou Zhanpeng twitched the corner of his mouth, displaying a forced smile. "Want to know? Top secret!" He didn't want to fabricate lies to deceive the people closest to him, so telling the truth was the best answer.
Ling Xiao, accustomed to his carefree nature, decided not to ask further if he couldn't say.
But Xu Qing acutely sensed that something was wrong and looked at Ou Zhanpeng with concern: being summoned by Mu Xingyu right after arriving at the base, and discussing classified matters – this situation was not right!