From afar, the starship belt resembled a vast fishing net spread across space, each knot occupied by a barnacle-shaped starship. Xi Yujin and the others traveled from the outer edge all the way toward the central region.

The central starship was enormous, composed of 533 concentric circular plazas whose radii gradually decreased layer by layer. Visitors could use a spiral elevator at the center to reach different levels.

The elevator looked like half of a cracked eggshell, making soft gurgling sounds as it rose.

Because the eggshell elevator had no doors, Xi Yujin could see the scenery on every floor as they passed. Each level contained many glowing green orbs floating above display cases. Starship residents in spacesuits sat quietly reading books, occasionally standing to admire the luminous spheres.

This was the largest main venue of the Starship Belt: The Planetary Art Exhibition.

Xi Yujin and Gano casually chose a floor and stepped inside.

Suddenly, Gano stopped in front of an exhibition panel.

Frowning, he said: "These words are unpleasant to read…"

Xi Yujin moved beside him.

Gano translated the contents of the display panel for him.

It briefly described part of the starship belt's history. Originally, the starship people had lived aboard small ships. Later, they encountered these massive drifting starships in space and collectively moved into them.

To the starship people, it had probably felt like nothing more than relocating into abandoned property. After all, they didn't know that these giant ships were former Zerg outposts.

But to someone like Gano, a Zerg warrior, these creatures were actually occupying someone else's home.

Naturally, it left him uncomfortable.

He had thought he had long severed himself emotionally from his homeland and should feel nothing at all. Yet the moment he encountered traces of it, his emotions surged like tides. The unfamiliar feeling only made him more distressed, even stirring violent destructive impulses within him.

Then Xi Yujin quietly took his hand without saying a word.

Gano remembered that he was no longer just a Zerg warrior, but also a Blue Planet translator.

He no longer belonged to only one homeland, and Tidal Peace itself had become his eternal refuge.

The complicated emotions inside him finally eased somewhat. But at the same time, his desire to be close to Yujin became even stronger.

They wandered through the planetary exhibition for a while. It was already getting late, and they planned to find somewhere to rest, especially considering they still had five underage little Rust Clan members traveling with them.

Leaving the central exhibition hall, they crossed a long corridor. At the far end stood a pebble-shaped starship with a sign identifying it as a hotel.

Perhaps because it rarely received guests, the place felt rather deserted.

The owner informed them that most rooms were vacant and free to use, so they could choose whichever they liked.

"One room for the five of them."

Xi Yujin gestured toward the little Rust Clan members. One room was more than enough for the five little creatures.

"And another…"

He suddenly froze.

Another what?

What exactly was he doing right now?

He was booking a room with Gano!

Wasn't this progressing way too quickly?!

Hadn't they only recently started holding hands?!

"Another twin-bed room…" Xi Yujin forcefully shook away the dangerous thoughts and said to the owner with righteous seriousness. "Two people in separate beds is more proper. And more comfortable."

The owner handed over two room tags.

"Guest, we only have single-bed rooms and king-bed rooms here."

Xi Yujin stiffly accepted the tags, not quite daring to look at Gano. Yet he also didn't switch to two separate single rooms.

Well… they were a couple already.

Being a little more intimate was probably normal.

The starship hotel resembled a honeycomb. The guest rooms lined the outer walls while a massive central plaza occupied the middle, with a looping corridor connecting every room.

There were no steel walls here, no reinforced concrete at all. The Zerg's primal biotech architecture was exposed completely.

Rather than living inside a hotel, it felt more like living inside an enormous biological organism.

After escorting the little Rust Clan members to the neighboring room, Xi Yujin and Gano entered their own.

"They converted the warriors' resting chambers into hotel rooms."

Inside stood a circular bed that felt cold and bone-like to the touch.

"They even preserved this," Gano said calmly while pulling Xi Yujin down to sit beside him. "Though the temperature regulation system no longer functions. This is the kind of place I used to sleep in."

Whenever Gano mentioned his past, Xi Yujin felt as though some fluffy creature were scratching restlessly inside his heart.

If only we had met earlier…

He asked softly, "Do you miss home?"

"No," Gano answered directly.

Yet the familiar environment still triggered stronger instincts within him.

He looked at Xi Yujin, trying to restrain himself.

But even as he thought that, the words leaving his mouth were: "But my bone wings are acting up again. Maybe this Zerg environment is agitating them… Sorry. Is this becoming too frequent…?"

"Of course not!" Xi Yujin immediately protested. "It's not troublesome at all. If you want something, just say it directly."

The moment the words left his mouth, Gano began removing his spacesuit piece by piece.

First, the heavy helmet.

Then the pressure suit, the air circulator, and the thermal regulation equipment, which were gears that ordinary beings absolutely required to survive in space.

Then came the inner clothing.

Before Xi Yujin even realized it, that was gone too.

Soft starlight illuminated the dark cyan markings running across Gano's body. The patterns stretched from his back all the way to his collarbone. With a single breath, they suddenly became active, leaping from skin into open space.

Sitting atop the bed directly facing Xi Yujin, Gano unfolded his translucent bone wings. The overwhelming inhuman aura instantly filled the entire room.

Then Gano crawled closer on his knees, wrinkling the sheets beneath him, impatient to press himself nearer.

Xi Yujin turned his head and lightly kissed his cheek. But his hands suddenly didn't know where to go, so he hurriedly reached out to touch the bone wings instead.

The imposing Gano gradually softened more and more beneath the contact.

Half an hour later, the once-rigid bone wings had completely drooped.

Xi Yujin bundled Gano into the blankets like a packaged item and retreated to the opposite corner of the room to contemplate his life choices.

Inside the blankets, Gano's heartbeat raced.

His back felt as though it were soaking in warm water. Comforting warmth spread throughout his entire body, making him instinctively lazy and relaxed.

The satisfaction was so pleasant that his curiosity deepened.

He wanted Yujin to experience this feeling too.

Where exactly are human bone wings…?

And why do human books always describe couples sleeping together?

Forget it. I'll just ask Yujin to sleep together with me.

Meanwhile, Xi Yujin muttered, "I need to study myself a little…"

But he rejected Gano's invitation. He scratched his hair awkwardly.

Previously, he had never cared much about certain matters because he had never imagined himself falling in love with an alien or reaching this level of physical intimacy.

But now he had no choice but to think about it.

Because…

A diamond spirit…

Could it actually… do that?

Using his immense mental power, Xi Yujin carefully examined himself internally.

The moment he accidentally leaked even the slightest trace of his aura, nearby lifeforms jolted awake in alarm.

Completely oblivious, Xi Yujin continued patiently inspecting his internal structure.

Everything inside glittered brilliantly.

He had absolutely no idea where to even begin.

After aimlessly exploring for a while, he suddenly heard Gano say in surprise, "Yujinno… your color changed."

Xi Yujin exited his introspective state and used his optical computer to view his current appearance.

Originally, this body of his had been composed entirely of carbon. But in reality, stars also contain many heavy metallic elements. During his deep contemplation, Xi Yujin had unconsciously extracted some of those rarer elements.

His hair had now become composed of beryllium aluminum silicate mineral.

In other words, pink morganite crystal.

Previously, Xi Yujin could only alter his appearance using mineral pigments, which still carried risks. A single washing from one of the furry species could expose him immediately.

But now…

He had literally changed color on a physical level.

Xi Yujin curiously touched his newly pink hair, which floated weightlessly like drifting cherry blossoms.

Then he realized something profound: His composition itself could be altered.

So he continued exploring internally until he finally understood the fundamental mystery of being a diamond spirit.

Although he was technically a diamond spirit, he could still experience physical sensations externally. It was simply extremely dull and required much stronger stimulation.

His body temperature could rise slightly, but because it was difficult, Xi Yujin had not successfully managed it even once. He also had no idea what would ultimately happen afterward.

Still, since he contained hydrogen and oxygen, perhaps the final product would simply be… water?

That was the best guess his tragically limited chemistry knowledge could offer.

"Maybe it's better not to test this," Xi Yujin said thoughtfully. "What if nuclear fusion accidentally happens at the end?"

For safety's sake, perhaps maintaining a purely Platonic relationship with Gano was best.

At least until he managed to obtain a more human-like humanoid body.

Xi Yujin cautiously pondered while his thoughts spiraled further and further.

Relationships should progress step by step.

He and Gano hadn't even shared a proper romantic kiss full of ceremonial atmosphere yet!

That step absolutely couldn't be skipped.

And in the future, soothing the bone wings should probably be handled in a more dignified manner.

The moment he thought about it, his body temperature rose slightly again.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Gano sat wrapped entirely in blankets with only his head exposed, waiting patiently.

Yujin had been gone for a very long time now.

His confusion deepened more and more.

Why hasn't he come over to sleep together yet?

The next day, Xi Yujin went to register for the Planetary Art Exhibition.

Today, even more alien visitors from outside systems had arrived. The starship belt was gradually opening itself to the wider universe.

Xi Yujin's cherry blossom colored hair stood out conspicuously among the crowd of lifeforms.

Many beings who saw him instinctively found him approachable and pleasant.

Then suddenly, a tall alien stepped in front of him and asked excitedly, "With such a dazzling appearance, you must be Yujin from Blue Planet!"

"Not me," Xi Yujin replied. "But I am from Blue Planet. I'm planning to participate in this Planetary Art Exhibition, and..."

"My name is Wenhuo*." (T/N: 温火 - Wēn huǒ - Warm Fire)