Chapter 73: The Torch of Light

Yun Qimu handed fifty spirit coins to Amos. Seeing the look of surprise on his face, she smiled and said, “For your trouble.”

Amos froze for a moment, staring blankly at the coins in his hand as if he’d just witnessed something unbelievable. After a moment of awkwardness, he managed a dry reply, “Oh, thank you.”

If you looked closely, you could even spot a faint blush on his usually cold and handsome face. His eyes darted uncomfortably to the side—only to meet Masa’s eager gaze.

Amos: ……

He glanced down, then silently spread his hands to reveal the exquisitely crafted coins, each one like a tiny work of art. With a serious expression, he explained to the clan chief, “These are called spirit coins. They’re the currency of our Earth Village.”

Masa blinked. “That’s it?”

Amos eyed him suspiciously. “That’s it.”

“Then, what about my compensation for the shock and my hard work…” Masa held up two fingers, his small eyes coveting the coins in Amos’s hand.

Amos promptly stowed the coins back into his storage pouch, his handsome face cold and his voice stiff. “No. They’re all mine.”

Hmph, this old man is so sly!

Masa looked regretful, and just as he was about to say something to try his luck, he was swept away by the enthusiastic villagers.

Meifang, dragging Hualan behind her, squeezed to the front. As she took in Yun Qimu’s delicate features, she couldn’t help but praise her in her heart: What a beautiful girl—if only she could be my daughter-in-law.

While sighing inwardly, she anxiously asked, “Chief Yun, now that our Tiangou Tribe has joined Earth Village, does the recruitment still count?”

Yun Qimu calmly took a step back, her smile sincere. “Don’t worry, Auntie. The recruitment still stands, and the pay won’t change. As long as you don’t regret it, that’s all that matters.”

“Oh, no regrets, no regrets! How could we regret it? It’s our honor to work for Chief Yun and Earth Village.”

Meifang beamed, but in her heart, she was already making calculations. When they first arrived at Earth Village, they’d need someone to show them the ropes. Joining this recruitment was perfect—after five days, once she’d figured the place out, she could bring her husband and son to strike out on their own.

She, Meifang, was a strong and brave woman—what was there to be afraid of?

Besides, it was only five days of work. How bad could it be?

She handed over her paper cuttings with a bright smile. “Chief Yun, take a look at my paper cutting—can I be hired?”

“Please line up, everyone. I’ll check them one by one. No need to rush, Auntie…”

Her gentle tone made Meifang look at her even more fondly. Such a good girl—she’d be perfect as her daughter-in-law. Meifang’s eyes spun as she started plotting.

A few minutes later, all the women—young and old—lined up obediently, the competitive tension from before much reduced.

Now that everyone could enter Earth Village, there was less desperation for the job.

Yun Qimu smiled, feeling at ease. She examined their paper cuttings and finally selected the ten best, announcing their acceptance.

Among the ten were Meifang, Hualan, and Meifang’s husband, Cook.

As the only man among the “Nine Golden Flowers,” Cook stood cheerfully in the middle, grinning without a trace of awkwardness.

With the recruitment over, the Tiangou Tribe kept their word—none of the fifty backed out. On the other hand, everyone in the tour group withdrew.

After all, the whole tribe was moving to Earth Village—why waste three energy coins on a tour? That would be pointless.

Yun Qimu smiled on the surface but felt a pang of regret as she refunded them. Still, she didn’t cancel the tour plan. Instead, she handed it over to Ahua, telling her to take the sign and tag along with the Tiangou Tribe to advertise in the neighboring tribes—maybe she’d find some rich fools willing to join.

…

Nights on the Exile Star were pitch black—you couldn’t tell a person from a beast three steps away.

But tonight, the Tiangou Tribe was unusually lively. Every household, for once, was generous with their candles, packing up their belongings late into the night—the clatter and commotion louder than in broad daylight.

After all, Chief Yun had said they’d depart at eight o’clock sharp the next morning, as planned.

“Father, why are we in such a rush to have everyone pack up and leave tomorrow? Isn’t it too hurried? We could go in groups. Chief Yun said they’ve already cleared out the berserk beasts along the way, and after another sweep, there shouldn’t be any real danger. The rest could follow later without worry.”

Gemu sat at the table, savoring every sip of the top-grade nutrient drink Luke had given them earlier, his face full of enjoyment.

He smacked his lips, eyes dreamy—what a wonderful taste!

Masa put down his bottle, his blissful expression vanishing as he shot his not-so-bright son a look of disdain. “What do you know? I’m doing this for the good of the tribe. Do you know where those three space pirates came from today?”

“Where?”

“Hmph, from the Black Bear Tribe. A few days ago, some strangers showed up at Black Bear. I had someone look into it. The nutrient drinks Blackbeard was flaunting were all given to him by those strangers. Compare that to the three pirates we saw today—it’s obvious they’re the same people who showed up at Black Bear.”

“What? Blackbeard’s colluding with space pirates? Isn’t he afraid? I heard space pirates are ruthless!” Gemu was so shocked he couldn’t even drink his nutrient drink.

Masa snorted. “Blackbeard was never a good person. Why worry about him?”

Gemu grinned. “So, Father, you want everyone to move quickly because of those space pirates?”

“That’s right. You’re not completely hopeless. Blackbeard’s been eyeing our tribe for a while. Now that he’s met those pirates, and they have powerful weapons, our tribe is in real danger. Plus, Chief Yun detained three pirates today. I’m worried that as soon as we leave tomorrow, Blackbeard will bring his men here. Anyone left behind would be in trouble. It’s better to be decisive and all leave together, rather than gamble on the chance they won’t come.”

Gemu looked at him with admiration. “Father, you really think things through.”

“Of course. That’s why I’m your old man.”

Hualan, hands on her hips, glared at the pair of self-congratulatory men. “You two have so much stuff—are you going to help pack or not? Do you still want to sleep tonight?”

Gemu: “Coming, coming, Mother! I’ll be right there.”

Masa quickly tried to placate her, smiling apologetically. “Don’t be mad, Hualan. I’m coming now. Don’t get yourself worked up.”"