High above a small, remote planet in the vastness of the cosmos.
Aboard a massive starship, Chu Ze stood beside the barefooted Yunli.
After observing the planet through a pair of binoculars for a moment, he suddenly spoke up.
"Little Yunli, I have a very serious question."
Beside him, Yunli tightened her grip on her greatsword, her young face tense. "What is it?"
"You run around barefoot all day. Are you going to give me athlete's foot?" Chu Ze asked with a completely straight face.
"???"
Yunli nearly choked.
Fighting the overwhelming urge to slam her greatsword into his face, the young girl gritted her teeth. "What nonsense are you talking about?! I do not have athlete's foot!"
Chu Ze gave her a thumbs-up.
"First, my name isn't 'Hey,' it's Chu Ze."
"Second, never let your emotions get the best of you."
"And third, justice must always be f*cking served!"
...Huh? What the hell?
Little Yunli couldn't follow Chu Ze's train of thought at all.
But before she could even ask, Chu Ze stomped his foot hard, launching himself directly off the deck of the starship.
The moment he jumped, a voice crackled through the comms.
[Warning—Remnant Bu-Li stronghold detected. Coordinates locked!]
[All joint military exercise units, cease your return voyage. Prioritize the elimination of the remaining Bu-Li forces!]
[I repeat! All joint military exercise units, cease your return voyage. Prioritize the elimination of the remaining Bu--Li forces!]
It was only then that Yunli finally understood.
Chu Ze was distracting her so he could land first and steal all the glory!
The girl stomped her foot in frustration, quickly shouldering her greatsword and leaping after him.
But as the saying goes, one step behind means you'll always be behind.
Before she could even land at the ground-based stronghold, Chu Ze had already entered combat!
"WAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!!"
Drawing a deep breath, Chu Ze unleashed a roar so powerful it could shake the very stars.
The sound wave was a tsunami, a clap of furious thunder!
Empowered by the formidable energy of Destruction, the Bu-Li on the ground were instantly inflicted with Super Break, frozen in place by the shock.
"Aiyah, that scared the life out of me!"
"What the hell was that noise?"
"That's an Alliance beacon! The Xianzhou scum are here!"
"We're done for! We're surrounded by the Xianzhou!"
The Bu-Li stronghold erupted into chaos.
Some revealed their true forms, baring fangs and claws; some hastily retreated to call for reinforcements; others scrambled towards their starships, trying to escape.
The leader of these remnants, a nameless chieftain who had led his people into hiding on this desolate planet, kicked his own door down and charged out.
"ROAR—!"
But the moment he saw Chu Ze, who was glowing like a miniature sun with the power of Destruction, and the Cloud Knight soldiers riding the mists behind him, the chieftain's tone changed instantly. He made a swift decision.
"Avoid a direct confrontation! For now, we endure!"
"Retreat! Wolf cubs, retreat!"
Chu Ze let out a cold sneer. "Hmph, trying to run?"
He tore off his shirt, revealing a truly spectacular physique of dense, powerful muscles. With every breath, the massive muscle groups seemed to ripple, a perfect illustration of the beauty of violence.
"Those who trespass upon Xianzhou soil shall be struck down!"
"Remember this! It was a Cloud Knight Garrison Officer who sent you on your final journey!"
He raised his arm—
And threw a powerful punch—
BOOM!!!!!!
The nameless chieftain's expression was one of pure horror as his wolf-like body was sent flying backward, shattering dozens of rock pillars before coming to a stop.
A one-punch knockout.
Coughing up a large mouthful of blood, the nameless chieftain rasped, "What... what terrifying power... Who in the world are you...?"
Chu Ze gave an arrogant smile. "Standing before you is the shining new star, Chu Ze! Known by many titles, including the number one genius of the Azure Star, a Garrison Officer of the Luofu Cloud Knights, a Stellaron Hun—cough, cough, can't say that one..."
The nameless chieftain's eyes glazed over with despair.
Then, his head lolled to the side, and he was no more.
Chu Ze stood alone, one hand in his pocket, his head tilted up at a 45-degree angle, reciting a poem about his own performance:
"With a chest as broad as the heavens, a might that ten thousand men cannot match!"
"With a voice that rings with valor, a will that soars to the clouds!"
"With the heart of a lion, he descends from the heavens!"
"With bones of iron, a beast of legend upon his throne!"
"A demon-quelling lord sent from above, a veritable god of destruction among men..."
Yunli, who had finally caught up, couldn't take it anymore.
"You idiot, stop reciting your own epic poetry!"
"The battle isn't over yet! Deal with the rest of the Bu-Li before you start showing off! Idiot, idiot, idiot!"
...
...
That's right. Chu Ze was not a native of this world.
He was a transmigrator, or you could say, a reincarnator who had retained his memories.
In his past life, he was a patient with ALS on Earth. A life where he had to rely on others for everything had made him despise his weak, powerless body. He had decided long ago that if he ever had a next life, he would forge a body of immense strength.
Fortunately, after dying from his illness, he was reborn into the world of Honkai: Star Rail.
By a twist of fate, he had drifted from his childhood home on the Azure Star all the way to the territory of the Xianzhou Alliance.
Reborn into a new life, he developed an incredible desire for physical strength, tempering his body through sheer force of will. No matter how arduous the process, the memory of his powerless self lying in a hospital bed in his past life always fueled his determination.
As a result, he now stood at a towering 195 cm (6'5"), with a physique that was the perfect blend of aesthetic beauty and violent power.
Because of his love for battle, he always fought fearlessly on the front lines, accumulating numerous military honors across the various Xianzhou ships. His position had risen step by step from a humble Cloud Knight soldier to a Garrison Officer, already considered a mid-to-high-ranking officer in the Alliance.
"First leading the joint military exercises, and now cleaning up Bu-Li remnants..." Chu Ze thought to himself gleefully. "General Jing Yuan will definitely have to give me a promotion and a raise, right? Maybe my status will finally surpass that little pink-haired kid's!"
Beside him, Yunli shot him a disdainful look.
"You'd go so far as to distract me just to steal all the glory for yourself? You're a real piece of work, Hajize!"
Chu Ze looked at her, amused. "Yeah, yeah, go on and play now. And maybe spend less time online."
Ugh, his attitude was so infuriating!
But the joint exercises were indeed over, and it was time to go home.
So, little Yunli simply flipped Chu Ze the middle finger before leading the members from the Zhuming Xianzhou away from the fleet.
Chu Ze, in turn, led his own soldiers back towards the Luofu, eagerly anticipating his coming rewards.
...
"As of today, you are no longer a Cloud Knight Garrison Officer."
"...Huh?"
Hearing the words from Qingzu, the aide at the Seat of Divine Foresight, Chu Ze froze. He then whipped his head around to look at General Jing Yuan, who was seated behind his desk.
"You've got some nerve, Jing Yuan! I never thought a guy who looks so proper would try to steal my military merits!"
"Fine, fine! Stop trying to scare me with a discharge. I'll split the credit with you, fifty-fifty."
Jing Yuan watched Chu Ze's reaction with amusement. "I'm not stealing your merits. We are just making a small adjustment to your position. From 'Luofu Cloud Knight Garrison Officer,' you are being reassigned to 'General Affairs Secretary for the Six Charioteers.'"
"In terms of rank conversion between the military and civil service, your grade is effectively being raised from Level Six to Level Five. So, it's actually a promotion."
Qingzu clapped her hands in support. "Congratulations on your promotion and raise, Secretary Chu! Should you treat us to dinner tonight?"
"???"
Me, treat you?
Treat you to hell!
Staring at the ridiculous appointment letter, Chu Ze fixed his gaze on Jing Yuan, his face dark.
"Are you serious, Jing Yuan? Are you listening to yourself?"
"You're telling me, a muscle-brained warrior, to become a paper-pushing secretary for someone? Are you trying to make a fool out of me?"
Jing Yuan spread his hands helplessly. "Actually... this was your mother's idea."
Hm? My mom?
How did my mom get involved in this?
That's right, in this life, Chu Ze had a mother.
It's just that she was often away on business trips, and they hadn't seen each other in years... How could a Xianzhou personnel change have anything to do with her?
Just as he thought that, a high-spirited ringtone went off.
Seeing the name [Old Mother] on the screen, Chu Ze answered without hesitation.
The voice on the other end was a bit muffled, but he could faintly tell it was a pleasant female voice.
"Son, how have you been lately?"
Chu Ze replied immediately, "Not good! I was just forcibly transferred from my post!"
The female voice on the other end sounded cheerful. "Good! As long as everything is good!"
Chu Ze: "?"
His mother's voice continued, "How's work? Is it stressful?"
Chu Ze raised his voice. "Very stressful! Mom, I heard you were the one who suggested to my superior that my position be changed?"
His mom sounded very happy. "Good, no stress is good! When I'm away, the thing I want to hear most is your carefree voice!"
Chu Ze: "????"
After a moment of silence, he narrowed his eyes. "Mom, if your ears are bad, we can get them treated. If that's not enough, we can throw in some extra money and get your brain checked out, too."
His mother's voice came through. "Oh, hearing you say such sweet things just makes my heart melt. Even though this is a one-way message and I can't hear your voice... I know you'd only say the nicest things."
So it was a one-way message??
Then why didn't you say so earlier!!
Chu Ze suddenly had the urge to hang up.
But his mom worked for the Interastral Peace Corporation and was often on assignments in places with poor signal. Opportunities to talk were rare.
So, Chu Ze took a deep breath and listened patiently.
"Son, you might already know that your job on the Luofu has undergone a rather significant change. Don't worry, this was an opportunity your mother had to pull a lot of strings and run around everywhere to get for you. I know you're straightforward and love charging into the fray. But as an officer of the Xianzhou, you need to be well-rounded in all areas."
"If a person has only brute force, but doesn't understand how the world works and isn't skilled in strategy... such a person will have a very difficult time surviving in this universe."
At first, Chu Ze was frowning. But his mother's voice seemed to have a magical quality that calmed him down just by listening.
"So, I pulled some strings to change your position and let you get some training in a civilian role. We're not going to be a reckless brute with courage but no brains; we're going to be a genius with well-rounded moral, intellectual, and physical development! It might be difficult at first, but I believe you'll get used to your new job and adapt better to this society. You can do it, son. I believe in you!"
The phone went silent for a moment.
Chu Ze couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Although he was a reincarnator with memories of his past life, his past self, due to his physical condition, hadn't even finished high school and had spent his life in a hospital ward until he passed away.
This new world truly required more than just pure strength; it demanded a sharp mind and worldly experience. Otherwise, just as his mom said, he would be nothing but a pile of muscles, a tool to be used by others.
"Alright, I'll listen to you... I'll go and get some experience in another post."
Chu Ze made his decision, feeling a sense of relief.
Just as he was about to end the call, the voice on the other end spoke again.
"Oh, right! Speaking of geniuses, Mom happened to have found a suitable girl for you. Factoring in the time you had your... accident, you two aren't far apart in age, and your fields of study complement each other. Most importantly, you used to live next door to each other as kids. A real childhood sweetheart."
"I'll push her contact info to you. Chat with her when you have free time, okay? Who knows, you might even solve one of life's major milestones."
"That's all for now, bye~"
...?
A suitable girl? A blind date?
Isn't this topic jumping a little too fast?!
Before Chu Ze could even voice his complaint, his phone chimed with a notification.
["Prosperity Blooms" has recommended the contact "Herta"]
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