Returning to the Old Grounds

Compared to some long-established schools with thousands of years of history, the Zan Hun Military Academy, operating for only 120 years, is still considered a young institution.

However, among the graduates of the Zan Hun Military Academy, there are officers with outstanding military achievements, psychics renowned across the world, and countless individuals who have devoted themselves to human civilization.

Every military academy has its own unique characteristics, and Zan Hun Military Academy is no exception.

“Do not harm your comrades, do not abandon your comrades, do not betray your comrades.”

These “Three Do-Nots” are the strictest rules of Zan Hun Military Academy.

Violating even one of these rules results in at least a major demerit.

Today, Zan Hun Military Academy is welcoming its 118th cohort of students.

In an era when human lifespan can reach 200 years, four years of study is not long, but what one experiences can change a lifetime.

…

[Location: Beacon System – Beacon Planet – Second Starport]

Starports are harbors for starships; for them, this is home.

At a starport, ships can receive maintenance and supplies, and crew members can move freely.

Through the space elevator connecting the starport and the planet’s surface, crew members can shop, relax, or explore.

“Wow! Finally out, it was suffocating in there.”

Su Lixiao dashed off the shuttle as soon as it docked with the starport.

She breathed deeply, like a fish gasping for air, clearly disliking the shuttle’s recycled atmosphere.

“Still have to take the space elevator to reach the surface, so this is still recycled starport air.”

Behind her, Ye Lan carried bags and luggage down from the shuttle.

Seeing Su Lixiao full of life, Ye Lan felt a twinge of regret, realizing it would be hard to see her so soft and adorable in the future.

“Huh?”

Su Lixiao noticed the change in Ye Lan’s expression, hands on her hips, and asked angrily, “Was that disappointment in your eyes just now?”

“No. That’s your illusion.”

Ye Lan sweated, turning his head to avoid her sharp gaze, attempting to make an excuse.

But a pair of small hands forcibly turned his face back.

Su Lixiao’s cheeks were flushed, yet the strength in her hands was relentless.

Ye Lan felt like his skull could be crushed at any moment.

“Forget everything that happened on the shuttle! Forget it!!”

Su Lixiao threatened him openly, though with a hint of shyness.

Ye Lan chose to admit defeat directly: “Alright, Your Majesty, I completely don’t remember what happened on the shuttle.”

“Hmm! That’s better.”

Su Lixiao released her hands, saving Ye Lan’s head from imminent danger.

Ye Lan exhaled deeply.

But for him, forgetting? That was impossible!

Every experience with Su Lixiao on a shuttle was precious.

The Second Starport was brightly lit, bustling with people, and shuttles continually jumped in and out of spacetime, transporting more passengers.

Fortunately, the starport was large enough, designed to accommodate tens of thousands.

Although Zan Hun Military Academy’s annual enrollment was not large, it was enrollment season, and most passengers were parents accompanying their children.

However, such lively scenes would soon vanish.

Due to the academy’s secrecy regulations, parents cannot take the space elevator to the surface or stay at the starport for more than one day.

After the enrollment season, the Beacon System activates the hyperspace suppression system, temporarily erasing the star coordinates, preventing unauthorized ships from entering.

Following the crowd, Ye Lan and Su Lixiao easily found the space elevator boarding station.

The space elevator serves as a vital transport bridge between the surface and space stations.

It delivers people and goods safely, efficiently, quickly, and at low cost.

The structure functions like a multi-track railgun, with the elevator car as the “projectile.”

The elevator operates in an accelerated vacuum, reaching speeds over Mach 20, making the round trip between the surface and space only two hours.

Each elevator car has its own gravity field, precisely controlled by computers, canceling the acceleration to keep passengers at 1g, minimizing discomfort.

However, unlike finding the location, the long line in front of the elevator station was a challenge.

[Queue: 1,580]

The electronic screen prominently displayed the number of people waiting, and as Ye Lan and Su Lixiao arrived, it increased to 1,582.

Ye Lan rolled his eyes, knowing the wait would be long.

Multiple elevator cars operated simultaneously, so usually there was no congestion, but enrollment season was the busiest time.

Students weren’t the only passengers; staff and local Beacon residents also used the elevator.

Now Ye Lan and Su Lixiao could only enjoy the scenery.

Luckily, the automatic conveyor beneath them moved forward, so they wouldn’t forget to advance.

While waiting, Ye Lan observed the familiar yet strange facilities of the Second Starport, stirring a complex feeling of returning to old grounds.

Most of the people in line were freshmen, evident from their various ununiformed clothes.

Ye Lan considered searching for familiar faces, but even if he recognized someone, they wouldn’t know him or have prior-life bonds.

Among these freshmen, Ye Lan felt out of place.

Though young in body, his mind was over a hundred years old, experienced in countless life-and-death events.

In this vibrant environment, he felt slightly lost.

Youth, vitality, and energy symbolized the young.

Ye Lan could cling to his “oldness,” but he knew he should think about how to blend in, how to become a “young person.”

“Wow, Ye Lan, look at that!!!”

Su Lixiao excitedly grabbed Ye Lan’s shoulder, pointing out something spectacular.

“Keep shaking, and I’ll fall.”

Ye Lan, holding heavy luggage, nearly lost his balance from the motion.

‘Please, girl, be gentle. My small frame can’t handle this,’ Ye Lan thought, but he looked in the direction Su Lixiao indicated.

On the Beacon Planet horizon, the star’s light slowly rose.

Amid the brilliant glow, massive battleships leaped from space.

Their hulls glowed blue after exiting warp, forming a long line, moving at seemingly slow yet extremely fast speeds toward the Second Starport.

The crowd cheered at the magnificent sight.

Freshmen who had never seen such scenes were stunned.

The fleet passed over Ye Lan and the others, not stopping at this starport.

They were here for resupply, but not at the Second Starport.

On Beacon’s synchronous orbit, two official starports are recognized.

The Second Starport, where Ye Lan was now, is a large teaching starport for Zan Hun Military Academy.

Though for training, its facilities were complete.

Veteran soldiers manage maintenance and serve as instructors for practical lessons.

The First Starport is a military-only starport, closed to civilians and the academy, serving the human alliance fleet.

It has military-grade armor, shields, two ship repair facilities, and multiple anti-ship railguns—a true shield of Beacon Planet.

Though officially only two starports exist, rumors mention a hidden third starport, serving special individuals and missions, which Ye Lan had never seen.