WORDS OF THE SKY——MORNING STAR

chapter 2: Cloud Aspect Secret Art

The Nina sailed through the vast sea, displaying a majestic and unstoppable momentum. It was incomparable to the previous day when it stealthily floated 50 to 60 meters above the surface of the dark sea in the polar night region, filled with anxiety. After all, the dark sea was inhabited by immensely large sea creatures, or rather, sea monsters, which were the killers of long-range voyages, responsible for the destruction of nearly 20%-30% of such ships every year.

On the middle deck of the interface ring, Zhuang Moyan's heart felt as if it had plunged into the depths of the dark sea.

"Momo, I want a big feast, I want desserts, I want energy drinks."

Moon Night Frost sat on Zhuang Moyan's shoulder, her little brows furrowed, and her small mouth chattering with complaints. Moon Night Frost was the only thing Zhuang Moyan's late father left him, a nanomaterial-made humanoid with adult palm-sized dimensions. With an exquisite flying figure, curvaceous body, wearing a sky-blue ribbon dress, and bare, water-clear, rosy little feet, crowned with a sky-blue jade headdress, complemented by inky long hair and a delicately charming crystal-like face, she was captivating to people of all ages and genders. Zhuang Moyan knew that Moon Night Frost's intelligent core contained eighty-one different flying figures. Back then, with just three flying figures—pathfinder, flower pin, and fruit offering—she had already entranced the shabby and disrespectful old swindler, Yuan Tiangang, for seven days and nights. If it weren't for Moon Night Frost being bound not only to Zhuang Moyan's genetic code but also to his brainwaves, she would have probably been taken away by the old swindler long ago. Unfortunately, in the end, it was Zhuang Moyan who got ensnared by the old swindler and ended up on the long-range ship "Nina" bound for Dawn City in the polar day region.

"Frosty, you should at least remind me to watch out for fire, theft, and swindlers! We traded all our savings and belongings for a ticket, a broken mirror, and a mysterious technique of unknown authenticity, claiming to predict fortune and misfortune by observing clouds. Frosty, even fools know about fortune-telling and divination; they look at faces and palms. I'm such a fool! And this A-class ticket! The old swindler promised it included full board and lodging, all the gourmet delicacies on the ship, fruits and vegetables, and all the entertainment activities and facilities fees. Is that true? Not at all! It's all lies! And it's all your fault, Frosty! Whenever you hear about good food and fun, you insist on making me switch. I've been cultivating spiritual plants for ten years, and all I got in exchange was this lousy ticket, with only two servings of synthetic food a day... Oh, right, Frosty, you're an automaton and don't need to eat! I'm so dizzy..."

The outspoken youth's frustrated complaints annoyed Moon Night Frost. Although she was a nanomachine automaton, she was unique in the world, able to share his perceptions solely by being locked to Zhuang Moyan's brainwaves. Besides experiencing the pleasure of delicious food, she could sense everything within a certain range and distance for him. Without her, how could this brat Zhuang Moyan have become a renowned spiritual plant hunter in the Death Officer City? Relying on his two squinty eyes that could only vent anger? I'm so angry at this ungrateful scoundrel! Moon Night Frost could use Zhuang Moyan's bio-electricity as her core energy source to maintain her operation, so poor Zhuang Moyan fainted on the deck after being drained by the lovely Frosty.

Clatter, clatter, clatter... As Zhuang Moyan regained consciousness, he lay on the deck like a salted fish. Gazing at the drifting cloud fluff in the sky and hearing the sounds around him, he turned his head and saw a colorful and fluffy rooster, blinking its eyes and constantly clucking, strutting like a general, marching towards him.

"Momo, it's a chicken! Quick, seize it, pluck its feathers, drain its blood, roast it, fry it, stew it! I'll stand guard and keep watch. Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Moon Night Frost's urgent voice echoed in Zhuang Moyan's mind. With a resigned sigh, Zhuang Moyan thought to himself, "No wonder I have such exceptional spiritual power. It's all thanks to Frosty."

"Frosty, don't you feel that this chicken belongs to someone? It's someone's pet! Haha, no, it's the chicken walking its owner."

Fang Qingxue, the second assistant to Captain Leiro of the Nina, was absentmindedly strolling behind Wang Cai. Yes, that's Captain Leiro's beloved pet rooster, Wang Cai! Countless times, every time they crossed into the polar day region, the captain would coax others, no, coax the rooster, to take Wang Cai out for sunbathing, showcasing his colorful feathered claws. And every time, Fang Qingxue was the one who ended up carrying the bags. What's the deal? The captain is the captain, and she's just the captain's assistant, and even a second assistant at that. As she thought of this, Fang Qingxue sighed in resignation. The two consecutive sighs drew her attention to Zhuang Moyan lying on the deck. That was how they first met. No wonder many years later, Zhuang Moyan would tell others that he couldn't recall the first encounter... Haha, only a fool could remember their first meeting...

Years later, Fang Qingxue would also figure out the reason she took Wang Cai for walks. For the crew members of the Nina, who spent long periods on long-range voyages, crossing the dark and desolate polar night region and then seeing Wang Cai's colorful plumage and the figure of a slightly plump girl clad in a pure white ship uniform, she looked like a cute and angry young bride, which was undoubtedly a blissful sight. Fang Qingxue remembered vividly what Zhuang Moyan did after they first met—he used the later famous cloud divination technique to deceive her into sharing food and drinks. That's when Zhuang Moyan's nickname, "Little Swindler," started to spread.