Chapter 548: The Northern Wall Has Fallen

Leng Pan redirected power from the weapons to the internal transport system.

The vessel dropped faster.

[Impact in twenty-three seconds.]

She looked at Lu Zhen. "Redirecting the power disabled the remaining stabilizers."

"We only need the platform to work once."

Little Vine entered the transport system and sent several roots through the control panel. The blocked route changed from red to blue.

"Now!" Leng Pan shouted through the communicator.

Three figures appeared on the circular platform near the rear of the control room.

Sonny stumbled forward and caught himself against a damaged station. Vanish remained on his feet, but the alien prisoner landed on his knees.

The prisoner looked through the window and paled. "Why are we falling toward the Primary Passage?"

Lu Zhen replied while searching for the external transport option, "Because we intend to destroy it."

"You cannot destroy a Primary Passage by crashing one vessel into it. The outer structure has several protective fields."

"The transport vessel contains an active spatial core," Leng Pan reminded him. "What happens when it collides with the Passage?"

The prisoner opened his mouth, then slowly looked toward the city again. "The energies could react."

Sonny grabbed his shoulder. "Could they react enough to destroy it?"

"They could also create an explosion large enough to erase half of Tayi City."

"The city is already abandoned."

"That does not make the explosion safer for us!"

Vanish looked toward Leng Pan. "Can we enter your space?"

"Not yet."

For the first time since appearing in the control room, his calm expression changed. "Then how are we leaving?"

Lu Zhen found a hidden option beneath the transport platform’s emergency controls.

[External evacuation available.]

[Maximum range: three kilometres.]

"We have another way," he announced. "The platform can transport us outside, but someone needs to select a safe coordinate."

Assistant Yao’s voice suddenly came through the communication system. "I am above the western section of Tayi City. The captured aircraft can provide a coordinate."

Leng Pan released a breath of relief. "You followed the vessel?"

"I could not leave while everyone was still inside. However, I would appreciate it if you avoided destroying the aircraft I am currently using."

Lu Zhen entered Assistant Yao’s position into the evacuation system.

The platform rejected it.

[Destination in motion.]

Assistant Yao understood without needing an explanation. "I will land on the roof of the western transit station. The structure appears stable."

[Impact in fourteen seconds.]

The alien prisoner rushed toward the platform. "We should leave now."

Lu Zhen caught the back of his uniform and pulled him away. "The vessel has not been aimed properly."

Below them, the transport ship was falling beside the Primary Passage rather than directly above it.

Leng Pan looked at the remaining engine controls. "If we use the final stabilizer on the left side, it should change our angle."

"The power was redirected to the transport system," Vanish said.

Lu Zhen raised one hand, and his fire entered the damaged control lines. "Then I will replace it."

The flames travelled through the station and reached the left stabilizer.

Warning symbols spread across every screen.

Lu Zhen’s face became pale as the machine pulled more energy from his ability.

Leng Pan wrapped her arms around him from behind and covered his hands with hers. "Do not force all the power through your body. Let me cool the control lines while you guide the flame."

Water spread over the damaged system without touching the active fire. Steam rose around them as their abilities maintained the stabilizer together.

The vessel changed direction.

The Primary Passage moved toward the centre of the front window.

[Impact in eight seconds.]

Assistant Yao’s aircraft landed.

The external coordinate became stable.

Lu Zhen stopped supplying the stabilizer and turned toward the others. "Get on the platform."

Vanish pulled the alien prisoner onto it while Sonny activated the destination.

Little Vine returned to Leng Pan’s wrist.

[Impact in five seconds.]

The platform filled with silver light, but Leng Pan and Lu Zhen remained beside the controls.

Sonny looked at them. "Why are you not coming?"

"Someone must keep the vessel aimed until the transport begins," Lu Zhen replied. "Go ahead. We will follow."

The prisoner’s eyes widened. "The system will lose power after the first transport. There might not be a second one."

Leng Pan looked at Lu Zhen. "Did you know that?"

"No."

She studied his face. "That was an unconvincing lie."

"I suspected it."

"Then why did you allow them to activate the platform before we stepped onto it?"

"Because if the system failed early, I wanted you to use your space."

Leng Pan caught his coat and pulled him closer. "We promised that neither of us would decide alone who should be sacrificed."

"I am not sacrificing myself. I am making sure the others leave before us."

"You are still trying to protect everyone while pretending your life is less important."

The silver light around the platform became brighter.

[Transport initiating.]

Leng Pan turned toward Sonny. "Stop it!"

The controls no longer responded.

Vanish, Sonny, and the prisoner disappeared.

[Impact in three seconds.]

The transport platform went dark.

Lu Zhen pulled Leng Pan against his chest. "Try your space again."

She reached for it.

The silver current still surrounded her, but it had weakened enough for a narrow entrance to appear.

"It is opening, but not quickly enough."

Lu Zhen covered her hand with his. "Then take whatever energy you need from me."

"I cannot take your fire ability and turn it into spatial energy."

"You once used my body as your connection point when you entered the space from a distance. Use me as your anchor again."

Leng Pan understood.

She wrapped both arms around him and pressed her body against his. Instead of fighting the foreign current directly, she used Lu Zhen’s familiar presence as the coordinate leading back to her space.

The entrance widened.

[Impact in one second.]

Leng Pan pulled Lu Zhen through.

The transport vessel struck the Primary Passage.

A violent explosion covered the centre of Tayi City.

Inside the space, the ground shook so strongly that several storage shelves fell. The spiritual spring rose in a high wave, while the sky flashed with silver and black light.

Leng Pan and Lu Zhen landed beside the house.

The force threw them apart, but Little Vine caught Leng Pan around the waist as Lu Zhen struck the ground several metres away.

She immediately crawled toward him. "Lu Zhen!"

He rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. "I am here."

Leng Pan knelt beside him and touched his face, shoulders, and chest as if she needed to confirm that every part of him remained intact. "You frightened me. When the platform lost power, I thought..."

Lu Zhen pulled her down against him before she could finish. "I am sorry. I should have told you what I suspected."

"You should have stepped onto the platform with the others."

"Then the vessel might have missed the Passage."

"I know, but that does not mean I have to like what you did."

He held her more tightly and kissed her hair. "You may scold me for as long as you want after we confirm the others survived."

Leng Pan lifted her head. "For as long as I want?"

"Yes."

"And you will remain tied to the bed until your wounds heal?"

Lu Zhen looked at the determination in her eyes before surrendering. "If you remain there with me."

"That was not part of the punishment."

"It is part of my agreement."

She tried to maintain her anger, but his expression made it difficult. "You are still negotiating after nearly dying."

"I promised to negotiate for a better reward."

Leng Pan kissed him deeply before whispering against his lips, "That is all you are getting until I examine your back."

"Then I should cooperate."

A large crack of thunder passed through the space.

The outside world had become quiet.

Leng Pan helped Lu Zhen stand before opening a small window beyond the space.

Tayi City appeared beneath a cloud of dust.

The transport vessel had been torn apart, and the Primary Passage was gone. In its place was a deep crater filled with burning alien metal.

Assistant Yao’s voice came through the communicator. "Vanish, Sonny, and the prisoner reached the transit station safely. The explosion destroyed the Passage."

Relief passed through Leng Pan.

Then Lu Tao’s urgent voice interrupted the communication.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, we need you at Qinghe Base. The northern wall has fallen."