Chapter 2: Tame (max): The flower's dew is spiritual spring water. The more you drink, the higher your loyalty; the space's owner is your only master.]

On the ground, the black screen flickered back to life.

Everyone cheered for a second, then froze.

The whole screen was filled with golden light, as if all the gold in the world had been ground to dust and scattered in space.

Three hours later.

The manned spacecraft returned safely.

As the hatch opened, medical staff rushed forward—only to see Jiang Yan walk out, perfectly unharmed.

""This—""

""This—""

Everyone was stunned again.

After a moment, someone shouted, ""Jiang Yan, hero!""

""No, Jiang Yan, my goddess!""

""My idol!""

""......""

""Jiang Yan."" Mo Jingsheng stepped forward to help her, but Ye Qing rushed out, eyes red, half-hugging her.

Su Dai and Sun Jingtao followed, teary-eyed, wanting to hug her but not daring.

They only learned later that Jiang Yan had gone to space alone.

""You can't be so reckless!"" the lead doctor almost fainted. ""Do you know the dangers of returning from space?!""

Others had to be carried out, but Jiang Yan walked out herself.

Still, the medical team was anxious, treating her like a national treasure.

Ye Qing looked embarrassed but said, ""I know.""

The doctor was even angrier. ""You know and still did it?!""

""Alright, listen to the doctor,"" Mo Jingsheng said casually, pulling Ye Qing away.

But Ye Qing still clung to Jiang Yan.

""The higher-ups are watching,"" Mo Jingsheng whispered in his ear.

If not for that, would you have gotten the first hug of the century?

Ye Qing sighed, looked at Jiang Yan worriedly, and finally let go.

Jiang Yan steadied herself and looked up at the sky.

Before she left, the sky was overcast.

Now, it was clear, with even a few white clouds.

Was the calamity over?

""When I left, the whole planet was covered in black clouds from space. When I came back, the clouds were still there, but turning white. Has ground monitoring changed?"" Jiang Yan asked Mo Jingsheng. ""Is the disaster over?""

Mo Jingsheng nodded. ""Yes, some air quality readings are dropping. The atmosphere seems to be repairing itself, UV levels are down. The calamity is probably ending.""

Everyone cheered. ""Does that mean our lost planet is coming back?""

""What's done can't be undone,"" Mo Jingsheng said. ""But with our efforts, we can make this planet and Mars cradle humanity again!""

*

A day later, Jiang Yan set off for Mars with the SS District.

With the Calamity Simulation Lab destroyed, the original escape-and-immigrate plan was changed to a Mars immigration plan.

Passengers now included some scientists and top infrastructure experts.

A year later, Jiang Yan returned alone after delivering supplies.

Three years later, a new ocean city cluster was built around the Yaoben Base.

A new national treasure storage facility was completed, with high-security, climate-controlled warehouses.

Jiang Yan spent seven days and nights handing over all supplies.

With the preserved technology, new advances were made at the base.

Holographic projection was used to recreate rainforests, gardens, blue skies, and white clouds—scenes from before the apocalypse.

Though digital, people could finally escape the cold, gloomy base.

Led by Mo Jingsheng, Jiang Yan visited a doomsday fortress.

She declined all high-ranking positions and privileges, and after donating supplies, left Yaoben Base on the Xiaolong-class destroyer.

The destroyer, a gift from the authorities, was equipped with priceless missile defense and advanced weapons.

Now renamed ""Anming"" after Jiang Yan's hometown, symbolizing peace and light.

Joining her were 197 people from the treasure hunt—scientists, captains, soldiers, loaders, builders, chefs, cleaners...

They could have stayed at the base, but because of their secret mission, they would be under lifelong protection and surveillance.

When they learned Jiang Yan was leaving, they all wanted to go with her.

The authorities agreed—really, they followed Jiang Yan's wishes.

She accepted.

As for the top survivor, Mo Jingsheng, he wanted to go too, but his responsibilities wouldn't allow it.

After a day and night, the destroyer stopped at a mountain near Dongshan, not yet submerged by the sea.

Jiang Yan led everyone ashore and, to everyone's shock, casually stored the destroyer in her space.

They were amazed, but accepted her powers.

""Sister Yan, are we building our own base here?"" a builder asked, already planning how to use the resources.

""If only we had excavators and machines,"" he said, knowing Jiang Yan's ""treasure chest"" could provide anything.

Su Dai came over. ""Jiang Yan, I can help too. What can I do?""

Ye Qing, Sun Jingtao, and Li Haoyang also volunteered.

Ye Qing, Song Qian, and Li Haoyang had bright futures at the base but chose to follow Jiang Yan, giving up everything.

As for Kong Wu, Jiang Yan's number one fan, he never wanted to leave her side.

Mo Shiyao also came over. ""Jiang Yan, if we're building a base, there's a lot of cleanup. Should I ask my brother or Zepeng to send some soldiers to help?""

After Jiang Yan returned from Mars, Mo Shiyao told her she was engaged to Qin Zepeng.

Though they had nearly 200 people, only half were professionals.

Jiang Yan smiled and asked, ""Thank you, but if you could have a paradise here, and this is the entrance, would you want it by the sea or farther away?""

""Paradise?"" Everyone was stunned.

""Sister Yan, we know you have powers, but this is all ruins. How could there be a paradise?""

""Yeah, but with you leading us, it'll become paradise sooner or later!""

Everyone chimed in with flattery.

Jiang Yan was amused and exasperated. ""Huabao, can you turn down the taming effect?""

A little flattery was nice, but every day was too much.

Huabao's vines twisted like a steel wool ball. ""Mommy, the spring water tames people. Maybe the creek water can weaken it?""

Jiang Yan decided to try it.

Huabao worried, ""If they go back to normal, aren't you afraid they'll betray you?""

Jiang Yan shrugged. ""You still have your devour skill, right? Anyone betrays me, eat them.""

""Jiang Yan, what do you mean by paradise?"" Mo Shiyao asked, taking her hand. ""You didn't catch anything on Mars, did you?""

She suspected Jiang Yan had caught a space virus.

Jiang Yan smiled, looked around, and announced, ""Watch closely.""

""It's time to witness a miracle."" With that, a white light flashed.

A barrier appeared before them.

""This is—"" Everyone was dumbfounded.

Some pinched themselves to check if they were dreaming.

""Shall we go in?"" Jiang Yan patted Mo Shiyao.

""Okay."" Without hesitation, she stepped through the light.

Everyone followed.

Seeing the green mountains, blue sky, and white clouds, they were stunned again.

""My god, that's the legendary black soil!""

""That's a creek!""

""That's a grassland!""

""That's a forest!""

""That's a mountain!""

""That's the sea—an unpolluted sea!""

""This water is cool and sweet—it's real, not a hologram!""

""This black soil even has earthworms! It's real!""

""The sea water is salty—and a bit bitter!""

""Can I eat some grass?""

Everyone was moved to tears.

Jiang Yan was touched too, realizing that copying her space into reality was a good decision.

Yes, after Huabao devoured all the gold and jewels Mo Jingsheng gave her, it fully upgraded.

The space also upgraded—though still small, its ecology was like a mini planet.

A new function was unlocked: as the space's owner, Jiang Yan could copy her space into reality—""Reality Space.""

She could choose what to copy.

The space had strong self-defense; only those authorized by the owner could enter.

Those who drank the spring water and were loyal to Jiang Yan were temporarily authorized.

""Reality Space"" could be moved at will by Jiang Yan's thoughts.

If placed in water, people would emerge in water—hence, Jiang Yan put it on a hill.

Su Dai wiped her tears. ""Jiang Yan, is this the paradise you meant?""

Jiang Yan nodded. ""Yes.""

""Honey, I told you hugging Jiang Yan's thigh was the best choice ever!"" Su Dai hugged her. ""Jiang Yan, need a bed-warming maid or a big pendant?""

Jiang Yan laughed. ""Ask your husband first.""

Su Dai grinned. ""He can't compare to you.""

Sun Jingtao pouted. ""Jiang Yan, need a male pendant?""

Su Dai glared. ""Sun Jingtao, are you asking for trouble?""

They chased each other onto the grass, lying down, gazing at the sky, happy as can be.

Jiang Yan smiled at the loving couple.

Zhou Haotian, Zhou Haoyue, Zhao Xiaofei, and Miao Miao came over. ""Sister Yan, need a mini pendant? We can act cute and roll around...""

Another female soldier shyly asked, ""Sister Yan, need a back-massager or singer?""

""Senior massage technician No. 38 from Xiaolong here!"" a burly man announced.

He was the team's nutritionist and masseur.

Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh.

""Sister Yan, can we live here?"" a ship's chef asked.

Jiang Yan nodded. ""Of course!""

""But everything here is empty. We'll have to build our own home. I'll provide some supplies."" With a thought, she produced machines and materials.

Excavators, chainsaws, 3D printers, bricks, cement, tables, paper, pencils.

And lots of food and drinks.

""Help yourselves.""

Coffee, milk tea, cola, water, beer, pizza—everything you could want.

""I'll design!""

""I'll cut wood!""

""I'll...""

""I'll coordinate!""

...

Jiang Yan watched everyone work energetically, pleased, and produced tents.

""We'll have to squeeze into tents tonight.""

""In such a beautiful place, I'll sleep on the grass!""

""Me too!""

""Me too!""

A soldier suggested, ""Sister Yan, why not bring out the destroyer? There are cabins—we could use fewer tents.""

""Good idea,"" Jiang Yan said. ""What's your name?""

""Gu Chen, reporting!""

""Got it.""

With the 3D printer, villas and apartments were quickly built.

But Jiang Yan didn't let anyone move in immediately.

As before the apocalypse, she made sure to ventilate and remove formaldehyde before letting people move in.

She hadn't bought furniture before the apocalypse, so everything was handmade by the team's craftsmen.

The black soil in ""Reality Space"" was put to use.

Agricultural experts led people to plant vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Everyone was busy and happy.

Somehow, Jiang Yan had gotten a bunch of eggs.

Soon, with expert care, the space was full of chickens, ducks, geese, fish, even ostriches.

Jiang Yan lived in the largest, most luxurious house built for her.

But she treated it as a temporary stop; once inside, she'd return to her own space.

The spiritual spring, apple pods, animals, and reindeer stayed in her private space.

It was her own world.

Time flew by.

Soon, another New Year arrived.

Li Haoyang accompanied Jiang Yan to inspect the new wheat fields. ""Sister Yan, have you thought about bringing more people into our paradise?""

Now, everyone in ""Reality Space"" lived better than before the apocalypse.

But outside, though the calamity was over, people still lived underground, day after day.

""I'd like to, but it's not allowed,"" Jiang Yan said, pointing up. ""Space is limited—only 200 people at a time.""

There were 198 left from the treasure hunt, so two spots remained.

One went to Mo Shiyao's fiancé, Qin Zepeng; the other she kept in reserve.

Qin Zepeng had drunk a little spring water.

But like Mo Jingsheng, he had to shoulder national duties.

Jiang Yan didn't want to bring in more people.

She just wanted a peaceful, free life.

More people, more trouble.

She had no grand ambitions.

*

On New Year's Eve, after the reunion lunch, Jiang Yan took a glass of wine to the terrace alone.

Su Dai and Sun Jingtao came out. ""Jiang Yan, it's almost New Year. Any wishes?""

Jiang Yan raised her glass to the moon. ""May all wishes come true, and may the new year be safe and smooth.""

""And you?"" She smiled at Su Dai's belly.

Su Dai had miscarried before the apocalypse and couldn't conceive again. They'd adopted Zhou Haoyue, her brother, and Zhao Xiaofei.

But after living in paradise, she was pregnant again.

Jiang Yan remembered the pink nursery she'd seen on the Anming and was genuinely happy for them.

""I hope the baby is born safely,"" Su Dai said, caressing her belly.

Jiang Yan smiled. ""It will be.""

""Jiang Yan, I have a small New Year's wish,"" Su Dai began, when two tall figures approached—Ye Qing and Mo Jingsheng.

Behind them were Mo Shiyao, Kong Wu, Li Haoyang, and others.

Su Dai was surprised. ""Commander Mo, what brings you here?""

Mo Jingsheng smiled at Jiang Yan and got straight to the point:

""The Mars immigration plan has entered phase two. The base there is up and running. To thank you for your contribution, the authorities will name the base after your hometown.

Mars will become humanity's second home. When you visit Anming Base, you'll feel a sense of belonging.

Also, for the next Mars inspection, they'd like to invite you. Jiang Yan, do you like this New Year's gift?""

Jiang Yan didn't answer immediately, swirling her wine thoughtfully.

A chilly breeze blew, and in her red dress, Jiang Yan shivered.

Ye Qing quickly took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Mo Jingsheng's brow twitched, but he changed the subject. ""I heard you talking about New Year's wishes. What are they?""

Su Dai touched her belly, glanced at Jiang Yan, and said, ""I hope Jiang Yan can be my child's godmother.""

""Godmother?"" Jiang Yan was surprised, then smiled. ""Of course!""

Mo Jingsheng took a deep breath and said, ""In that case, I apply to be godfather.""

Su Dai: ""......""

Everyone: ""......""

Ye Qing blushed and stepped forward. ""I want to be godfather too.""

Su Dai was overjoyed, then said, ""Jiang Yan, maybe you should just accept them all.""

Jiang Yan: ""......""

The scene was awkward.

Everyone looked between Jiang Yan, Ye Qing, and Mo Jingsheng.

Mo Jingsheng coughed and changed the subject. ""Jiang Yan, do you think naming the base after your hometown is appropriate?""

Waiters arrived with wine and champagne.

These were bottles Jiang Yan had bought in France before the apocalypse—each worth a fortune.

Jiang Yan gave champagne to Su Dai and the kids, and took a glass of red wine herself.

The others took their drinks.

Mo Jingsheng looked at Jiang Yan. ""You haven't answered me yet.""

Jiang Yan glanced at him, then at the others, sipped her wine, and said, ""Now that you mention it, it reminds me of a saying.""

""What is it?"" Everyone looked at her.

Jiang Yan put her glass back on the tray, stroked Huabao curled up in her arms, and smiled:

""Home is where the heart finds peace."" (The End)"