Chapter 227

Future chapters at patreon.com/FFAddict. Additionally, I have many new works readers may be interested in. Go look! Thanks!

In the upscale apartments of Little Tang Street in Watson District, the sound of water cascading echoed from the bathroom. Warm and clear, the water poured from the showerhead like a curtain of rain, dripping atop a man's head, sweeping over his charred and scabbed skin, carrying away white foam, black sediment, and threads of dark red blood as it fell, spilling over the marble floor beneath and flowing into the drain. 

It took several minutes for the warm water to finally wash away the char from Tang Yu's body, revealing the details of his eyes, nose, mouth, chest muscles, abdominal muscles, and the contours and skin of his legs. It had taken days of his 'Indomitable' talent constantly working to restore his body to a human-like appearance. The apartment was empty; Sasha must be over at Gloria's place, but the furnishings remained as tidy as when he had left them. After cleaning himself, Tang Yu turned off the shower, grabbed a clean towel, dried his hair and body in one go, and casually cleaned his ears before tossing the towel into the basket. With no one at home, he didn't bother being too cautious. He pushed open the bathroom door and walked toward his room to pick out a fresh set of clothes. Surveying his closet full of suits, Tang Yu hesitated, wondering what use he had for suits now that he might never return to work. Suddenly, his eyes landed on a checkered jacket with a suit-style cut from Jingumonji that caught his attention. 

Gloria had bought it for him to express her gratitude and repay the medical expenses after he saved her life, but it had remained unworn. After dressing, he was about to check his messages when he remembered that his communications device was gone—the smart invisible glasses from Michiko had melted into plastic earlier, and he had Panam to thank for picking the debris out of his eyes. 

Shirtless, Tang Yu went to the living room counter, opened a glass compartment, and took out the 'Dragon Fist' black-framed glasses, which fit perfectly. He decided not to use his original account anymore; Arasaka had only suspended him, and re-logging with his identity would certainly attract their attention. Tang Yu still wanted to meet some people and do some things without getting involved in troublesome matters. He registered a new account to check the time, and realizing it was about time, he changed his shoes and headed out.

At the entrance to the oceanic launch platform, people were orderly queuing for ticket and security checks. Up ahead, a rocket was secured on the launch pad, its rear emitting dense misty vapor. This rocket was bound for the lunar base, carrying both cargo and passengers. Lucy sat in the waiting area, holding two tickets to the lunar base, looking out the window at the rocket platform. It was her first time being this close to a rocket launch and the moon. In a few hours, she would fulfill her longstanding desire hidden deep in her heart, to escape from here, to truly reach the moon. From here, the view of the launch platform seemed no different than looking out from the apartment's bay window. Once everyone passed the security and ticket checks, they would board the shuttle to the oceanic launch platform and enter the rocket's cabin. The line was getting shorter, and the waiting room was nearly empty. The announcements were looping, reminding passengers to prepare for departure. Lucy turned away from the window, stood up, and joined the end of the queue for the security check, last in line. She knew the trip to the moon wouldn't be long and she'd soon return to Night City, but she still wanted to go. As the queue dwindled, Lucy was about to go through ticket and security checks when she instinctively looked back. The waiting hall was deserted, not a sign of the person she was hoping to see.

"Excuse me, ma'am, could you hurry a bit? All passengers must be in their suits and ready before the rocket launches," a security staff reminded. Reluctantly, Lucy handed over one of her tickets.

"Hello, we operate on a one-ticket-per-person basis. If your companion can't board in time, you can proceed to the counter to process a refund. The travel agency will coordinate with your companion," the staff suggested.

"No need," Lucy declined, taking back the other ticket.

The staff took the ticket, checked her identity, confirmed it, and put the ticket into the electronic gate. As Lucy was about to step through the security gate, a familiar voice suddenly called from behind.

"Fancy a night run?"

Lucy's pupils shrank; she froze, hardly believing her ears. She slowly turned around and saw Tang Yu standing at the entry of the waiting hall, smiling at her—an all too familiar and sincere smile. He was back. Running her fingers through her hair beside her ear, her eyes gleaming with neon-like shine, Lucy couldn't help smiling. "Can a night run take us to the moon?"

Tang Yu nodded earnestly and replied loudly, "Of course, it can."

"Really?" Lucy chuckled even more.

The staff once again reminded, "Sir, miss, the rocket is about to enter pre-launch preparations. If you still wish to take this rocket to the moon, please hurry."

Another ticket for a journey to the moon landed right in front of her, prominently advertising, "Start your new life!"

Lucy tossed away the stub she was holding and, on tiptoes, ran towards Tang Yu.

In her sight, Tang Yu smiled warmly, waving enthusiastically as if he was about to give her a hug.

Lucy's smile was slight, and her steps were quick, seemingly eager to rush towards Tang Yu.

Seeing Lucy throw away her stub and sprint towards him, Tang Yu, initially bashful, now opened his arms wide, ready for the long-awaited embrace.

"What are you waiting for? Wasn't it you who proposed a night run just now? Let's see if you've improved," he challenged.

Without looking back, Lucy sprinted past Tang Yu from the side, her figure streaking by like a dash of ice-blue light, leaving Tang Yu alone, stunned in place.

Tang Yu clenched his somewhat stiff fists and, turning to see Lucy running far ahead, folded back to follow her pace.

On the coastal levee, two figures ran side by side under the dark night sky, unlit by street lamps, with even the moon hidden behind the clouds.

Lucy said in a deep voice, "Since the major incident at the company plaza, the city's power supply hasn't fully recovered. Electricity is prioritized for the corporate buildings and municipal offices downtown. Public utilities here were cut off for a while."

That city-wide magnetic storm severely damaged the electrical grid and even affected the normal operations of power plants.

Municipal and corporate efforts, investing heavily to repair the power, eventually managed to supply electricity to what they called the core areas.

Suddenly, a street lamp above them flickered on, illuminating the path beneath their feet.

As they passed this little patch of light, the next street lamp lit up, brightening another area.

The street lamps seemed to pass the baton, one light going out as the next one lit up, guiding their path.

Lucy knew this was Tang Yu's doing and glanced at him with a smile, "I didn't know you had such tricks up your sleeve."

Tang Yu used his 'weak electrical control' ability to power up the lamps, showcasing a little of his superpower.

In front of Lucy, he kept no secrets about his mysterious powers.

"I've got more tricks than this. Want to see what else I can do?" Tang Yu said confidently.

"Hmm? You mean you can actually run all the way to the moon?" Lucy knew Tang Yu had more secrets; the big ruckus at the company plaza couldn't just be from this small show of power.

Tang Yu just smiled and snapped his fingers lightly.

Suddenly, Lucy felt like she was stepping on air, her feet finding no purchase, and she inadvertently used too much force, plunging forward.

With a light kick, Tang Yu caught up to Lucy, grabbing her wrist to steady her, continuing their leap along the coastline as if on the moon.

Lucy let Tang Yu hold her wrist, following his steps and rhythm, dancing under the lights like a sprite.

"How does it feel this time?" Tang Yu asked with a smile, looking back.

Facing Tang Yu's bright eyes, Lucy felt as if she saw the moon hanging in the night sky.

After running and jumping for a while, Tang Yu finally led Lucy gently back to the ground.

"That should roughly be the gravity setting, given it's manually controlled, it might not be perfect."

Lucy listened to Tang Yu in a daze, still immersed in disbelief; the feeling of weightlessness was too real, just like the experience in a lunar dream.

She looked at Tang Yu questioningly, and from his smiling eyes, she received confirmation that the sudden weightlessness was indeed his doing.

"So, this counts as a moonlit run, doesn't it? I've never lied to you," Tang Yu said, enjoying Lucy's expression, sure that she never expected such a day.

Before Lucy could react, Tang Yu gently held her hands, as if casting a spell, and slowly, Lucy started to float, as if in space.

Lucy's neon eyes sparkled in disbelief, looking around her as her feet lifted off the ground and she rose above her surroundings.

Tang Yu let go of her hands and floated up to follow.

Like a kite with its string cut, Lucy slowly soared higher, drifting far from the earth of Night City, with Tang Yu following ever closer.

The sea breeze swept their clothes, disheveling her silver hair.

No longer hesitant or worried, Lucy looked out over Night City wrapped in a curtain of light.

"This is amazing, so much fun!" the silver-haired girl exclaimed loudly, the city below glittering through her eyes.

"Can we go higher, farther, faster?" Her messy silver hair fluttered, but could not hide her ecstatic laughter.

Tang Yu shook his head resignedly; fortunately, his psychic powers had grown stronger, enough to send Lucy soaring into the clouds.

Under his extreme control of the force field, the two figures shot into the night sky like arrows released from their bows.

Escaping the planet.