Super Gene Hunting Ground

The following afternoon, when the mining site finished for the day, Yang Xiao, Zhao Benling, and Chi Lin arrived at the site by spaceship.

When the three of them appeared before Du Tianxing and the others, everyone was delighted.

Especially after Chi Lin explained the purpose of their visit, Lao Jiu was so moved that he was on the brink of tears, hugging Chi Lin tightly. On an alien planet, to have someone remember his birthday and brave the danger to celebrate it with him—that was true love indeed.

Lao Jiu said excitedly:

”Thank you, Chi Lin, Yang Xiao, and Brother Zhao, for coming here despite the danger. I’m truly touched.”

With a wave of his hand, Yang Xiao said:

”Chi Lin told me yesterday was your birthday, and I suggested we celebrate it later. But he said something that moved me deeply.

He said, every day here is filled with danger, so we must cherish each day, our lives, and our friendship. Here, the dozen of us depend on each other like family, like real brothers.”

Yang Xiao’s heartfelt words warmed everyone’s hearts, and their eyes moistened.

Du Tianxing said:

”Chi Lin is right. Here, we are all brothers. We shoulder our burdens together. I believe that one day we will leave this place and return to Earth.”

Everyone voiced their agreement.

After some idle chatter, Gu Beifeng suggested:

”The mines have been unsafe lately, let’s quickly go down into the pit and rest.”

They went down into the mine, shut down the elevator, and entered the pit together.

Chi Lin and Zhao Benling each carried a large food container filled with a variety of fresh foods. Because they were Yang Xiao’s fellow villagers, the person in charge of logistics was quite kind to them and casually let them take some of the leftovers.

They quickly spread out an array of food on the ground, and Chi Lin specifically made a round Golden Cake, as a substitute for a birthday cake.

What was even more precious, Chi Lin brought out two bottles of fruit wine.

”This I snuck out today, haha, Lao Jiu, I know you’re 22 this year, so these two little sticks can represent the number 22.”

Chi Lin took two clean little sticks he had prepared earlier, stuck them in the Golden Cake, and summoned a small flame to light the two twigs.

”Come on, let’s all sing the birthday song together and wish Lao Jiu a happy birthday.”

”Does everyone know the Zheng Zhihua version of the Happy Birthday song?”

Someone suggested.

”Of course.”

”Alright, today we’ll sing the Zheng Zhihua version of the Happy Birthday song.”

Everyone began to sing together:

”Your birthday reminds me of

A friend from long ago,

During a cold winter,

He wandered the streets,

I thought he was begging for something,

But he just shook his head,

He said today was his birthday,

Yet no one wished him a happy one,

Happy Birthday,

Wishing you a happy birthday,

May every day you’re alive be happy,

Don’t mind how you spend your birthdays,

...”

The dozen of them, singing, all began to cry.

This was a birthday song for themselves, a cathartic release of everyone’s inner emotions.

From the apocalyptic Earth to being coerced to Purple Origin Star, none of them could control their fate, and the flame of life could be extinguished at any moment. These vibrant young people were experiencing the fragility of life for the first time; in the eyes of aliens, their lives were less than those of ants on the ground.

Yes, live for today, cherish today, and treasure it.

Tears streaming down his face, Lao Jiu blew out the burning twigs.

Yang Xiao and the others wiped away their tears.

”Come on, brothers, today is not only Old Nine’s birthday, but also a birthday for each and every one of us. Let’s wish for happiness every single day of our lives. Cheers!”

Everyone raised their glasses, clinked them together, and then downed the drink in one gulp.

A strong current of electricity surged into their bodies.

”Great wine!”

Someone praised.

The two bottles of wine were specially brewed fruit wines from this planet, with a certain alcohol content and a nice taste.

The food was plentiful, and many items were ones that the mine’s workers couldn’t usually afford.

Chi Lin and Zhao Benling had made an effort to bring out some of the more exotic foods so everyone could satisfy their cravings.

As everyone feasted, they began to share various past stories and jokes, such as events on Earth, how they used to be wary of each other, and thoughts about attacking someone else’s territory.

Especially Yang Xiao, Gu Beifeng, and Du Tianxing, when speaking of past conflicts, everyone sighed deeply in retrospect.

”It’s all like a dream!”

”What the hell was there to fight over? Take it if you want it, I don’t give a damn anymore.”

”Only through life and death can one see through the things experienced in the past.”

”All is but a fleeting cloud; only our current drinking, feasting, chatting, and bantering is what truly exists.”

...

”Brothers, let’s sing another song. The birthday song we sang earlier was too sad. How about we sing ’Friends’ by Zhou Hua?”

”Sounds good, I like it.”

”These years, alone, through wind and rain,

With tears, with mistakes, still remember what to hold on to,

Only after truly loving will one understand, will feel loneliness, will look back,

Ultimately there’s a dream, ultimately there’s you, in my heart,

Friends, we walk this life together, those days will never come again,

A single sentence, a lifetime, a cup of wine with life-long affection,

...”

The joyful singing echoed through the tunnels and wafted into the night sky above the hundred-meter mine shaft.

At this moment, about forty or fifty savages were quietly approaching the mine from a distant forest.

When they got near the entrance of the mine, they heard faint sounds in the night sky.

”Huh, there are voices.”

The leader of the savages, Ah Bao, signaled the others to stop and listened carefully with pricked ears.

Among the group of savages were five people who had escaped from Ice Wolf Island; one of them named Tanaka Jiao was the leader of the group.

Tanaka Jiao listened carefully and said,

”They’re singing a foreign song, these people in the mine are from Xuanming Country.”

Ah Bao turned his head and asked,

”People from Xuanming Country? Do you know them?”

Tanaka Jiao shook his head,

”No, I don’t know them.”

”What about their Genetic Evolution Level?”

”Nothing much, they have just broken through to King Level, and their numbers are not many, about a dozen people.”

”Why are they singing songs?”

Ah Bao asked somewhat puzzled.

”Singing is a hobby of us Earthlings, just like how you guys howl in the mountains.”

”Should we attack this mine or choose a new mine to attack?”

Before the apocalypse, Tanaka Jiao was a fervent nationalist. His ancestors had died in war against Xuanming Country, and he had always harbored deep prejudice and hatred towards them. He immediately sneered and said,

”Of course we attack. The people from Xuanming Country were the enemies of Binglang Country back on Earth. Now, to think that on a distant planet, I can still represent the Great Ice Wolf Empire to suppress these bastards of Xuanming Country. How can I let such a good opportunity pass?”

(Five updates done, it’s 1 AM now. I’m really working hard. Please do support me, especially the legitimate version. Writing is not easy, and it’s even harder to persist.)