The opportunity of busking in the park offered Biuiao a novel way to earn income. He quickly recognized it as a rather viable venture, and the returns were considerable.

  Thus, the duo of vagrants formed their band. Mei carried a guitar constantly, indirectly performing alongside Biuiao in various districts across the city. As dusk settled, they would busk to secure funds.

  At other times, they played games of hide-and-seek with residents from rescue stations and welfare homes. The opening ceremony for the sports festival was approaching, necessitating that most homeless individuals sleeping on the streets were being relocated and taken to these temporary care facilities.

  This forced "eviction" brought unexpected benefits.

  Recently, the influx of tourists to the city had surged, allowing Biuiao and Mei to capitalize on this boom, accumulating a fortune. Tourists proved significantly more generous than the local populace.

  "A total of 3507 Euns!"

  This was the reward from last night's patronage from visitors.

  Biuiao was ecstatic. Just as he was dividing the earnings with Mei, the aggressive roar of a engine rapidly approached. Niros, sporting an urgent expression, shouted to Biuiao.

  "Biuiao, pack up and get in the car! We need to make a getaway!"

  "Huh?"

  Biuiao was confused: "Are the rescue station personnel coming again?"

  "No, it's my parents."

  Biuiao still failed to grasp the urgency.

  "What do your parents have to do with me?"

  "My parents explicitly stated they want to break your legs!"

  "Huh?"

  Biuiao grew even more perplexed.

  Mei offered a deduction: "She's probably been coming to find us frequently recently, staying out late multiple nights. Her parents naturally suspect she's involved in something inappropriate."

  Niros was frantic.

  "Get in the car, quickly!"

  "..."

  Biuiao, feeling helpless, had no choice but to board the car and flee with Niros. He remained unaware that Niros had also conveyed certain assurances to her parents, which was the reason Niros continued to shadow him afterward.

  Wherever he went, Niros would be there.

  Niros, however, offered no superfluous words. She simply followed Biuiao everywhere, literally transforming herself into a wandering girl.

  Before long, Mei departed alongside Biuiao. A location where they performed for too long would inevitably become tiresome for the audience, forcing them to move to different spots.

  Very swiftly, the group moved on, traveling through various cities and exploring all economically developed areas along the coast. As days accumulated, the snakeskin bag grew heavier and heavier.

  Five years later, the trio had completed a vast circuit of the coastal region, returning once more to their point of origin, this familiar city. Almost nothing about the place had changed.

  One day, when Niros arrived at the central plaza, she purchased an astronomical telescope from a nearby shop and presented it to Biuiao. Biuiao was visibly surprised.

  "Didn't you always say you wanted to buy an astronomical telescope? I figured you were too frugal to buy one, so I'll just gift you one. How does that sound?"

  "Thank you."

  Biuiao’s face lit up with genuine joy. He accepted it without ceremony.

  Niros stretched casually, patted Biuiao's shoulder, and remarked, "I've been running wild with you two for too long. I can't just vanish without a word. Anyway, I wish you an early return home!"

  "Understood."

  Biuiao retrieved a music box from his snakeskin bag. The tune inside was one they had played together two years prior; it held deep sentimental value.

  "This is for you."

  "Okay."

  Niros accepted the music box, waved to Mei standing nearby, and then walked away, heading back home. Biuiao, standing behind her, waved and shouted,

  "If you ever want to join us again, come find us here!"

  "Okay!"

  Boom!

  Niros replied, vanishing from Biuiao's sight. After all, no matter how whimsical one's lifestyle, there had to be a limit. Leaving home for five years was truly excessive.

  Mei commented, "I doubt she'll come looking for us again."

  "Who knows what the future holds."

  Facing separation, Biuiao remained incredibly optimistic. It seemed that life's sorrows or unhappiness rarely managed to leave a lasting negative impression on him. In truth, that wasn't entirely accurate.

  Guided by an extremely high moral compass, Biuiao maintained a coherent and logical worldview consistent with his own principles. It wasn't that he lacked negative emotions; it was simply that he held himself to exceptionally high standards.

  He could comprehend the origins of all emotions, calmly process them internally for a short duration, and then rapidly self-counsel and regulate.

  Thus, he always appeared outwardly unaffected. If he existed in ancient times, he would likely be termed a saint—he wasn't incomprehensible.

  But he understood too thoroughly.

  At night, under the bright moon and sparse stars, Biuiao was excitedly setting up his telescope in front of the fountain. He first indulged in observing the moon's surface, then began meticulously searching for the Aurora galaxy.

  The starlight visible in the night sky originated from stars. Some bright spots were single or double stars, others were vast galaxies, but due to immense distance, they appeared only as a single point of light. In reality, that light could be the combined radiance of countless stars.

  Locating a specific galaxy within the boundless universe was by no means a simple task. The difficulty of observing purely with the naked eye alone was even higher.

  Moreover, Biuiao was still making observations with only his naked eye and calculating entirely from memory, without the aid of a star chart. Due to the gravitational lensing effect, direct observation would not reveal the target galaxy.

  The starlight from the Aurora galaxy passed through the gravitational fields of countless massive celestial bodies along its trajectory, being distorted countless times. This demanded precise calculation for accurate location.

  An ordinary person would certainly be incapable of this feat.

  Biuiao reached a dead end. After a long while, he finally pinpointed the likely region for the Aurora galaxy, yet there was no trace of it within that sector.

  He couldn't help but feel astonished.

  "Did I miscalculate?"

  It seemed impossible.

  Biuiao recalculated everything from the beginning. The result was identical to before. He then looked again at the image captured by the telescope, falling into deep contemplation.

  "There's no logical reason..."

  What he had observed from Nivertar was the Aurora galaxy as it existed thirty-seven thousand years ago. Even if the Aurora galaxy had been annihilated, its light wouldn't cease reaching Nivertar until thirty-seven thousand years later.

  However,

  What was the current situation?

  Where was the Aurora galaxy?

  Mei inquired: "Are you certain that only seven years have elapsed since your ship crash-landed on Nivertar?"

  "Yes."

  Biuiao scratched his head, looking utterly bewildered.

  "What exactly is happening?"

  Mei leaned into the telescope and observed; after a slight "adjustment," she stated, "There."

  "Huh?"

  Biuiao looked again and was immediately astonished. This time, the Aurora galaxy suddenly appeared within the telescope's view: "Did I miscalculate just now?"

  "The sector coordinate was slightly off."

  "Is that so?"

  Biuiao persistently felt something was amiss but couldn't pinpoint the source. Nevertheless, the ability to see the light of his home planet again made him exceptionally happy.

  He gently pulled Mei to gaze at the Aurora galaxy together.

  "According to Nivertar astronomy, the Aurora galaxy belongs to the Sagittarius constellation. The Aurora galaxy is positioned at the constellation's head, and another location we call the Archlight Galaxy—that is the territory of another civilization."

  ...

  Within the vast expanse of the cosmos,

  Quadrillions of stars radiated brilliant light across the profound cosmic void, forming a breathtaking ocean of starlight.

  Every entity in the universe was in constant relative motion, spanning from elementary particles to celestial bodies, galaxies, and even the clusters of galaxies themselves.

  Within this magnificent galactic structure,

  The Raginves Galaxy slowly rotated through cosmic space, with several arms extending outwards, lending the Raginves Galaxy a spiral profile.

  Although humans could not perceive it directly, the Raginves Galaxy was indeed undergoing rotational movement. When the Raginves Galaxy completed one full rotation,

  That signified approximately 300 million years had elapsed.

  However,

  Calculating the rotational period by comparing the relative positions of other galaxies during the galaxy’s spin was impossible with mere naked-eye observation.

  Biuiao lacked such sophisticated observational equipment.

  He couldn't shake the feeling that his calculations from that night should have been accurate. It was just that without suitable observational gear, he couldn't verify it over time.

  He couldn't help but feel a touch of confusion.

  Had only two years truly passed since his ship malfunctioned and forced an emergency landing on Nivertar? There were far too many variables in the universe capable of warping the perception of time.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Furthermore, given the ship's internal malfunction, it was entirely possible that no temporal abnormalities were logged internally. Since the observational conditions could not be met, Biuiao had no choice but to suppress his growing doubts.

  Since their last encounter, Niros hadn't sought out Biuiao. Biuiao didn't mind this. He and Mei had found a suitable, secure location within a nearby derelict shopping mall.

  The top floor of the old mall was practically abandoned, having lost its utilities. No one ventured up there. The lower levels, however, housed all sorts of shops. It provided excellent shelter from wind and rain; it was simply perfect for their needs.

  From the top floor, one could see directly toward the central plaza. If Niros came searching for Biuiao, she would spot him instantly. The view from the mall's apex to the central plaza was wide and completely unobstructed.

  Biuiao wasn't merely being polite; his courtesy was never superficial. It could be said that every word he uttered was utterly serious and sincere.

  "Huh?"

  Central Plaza.

  Biuiao and Mei were preparing to commence their performance. An elderly man passing by glanced at Biuiao, his eyes immediately lighting up: "Broad forehead, full temples! Young man, you have a great noble benefactor within your destiny!"

  Mei responded with a smile,

  "You possess quite the skill in physiognomy, elder."

  "Hmph,"

  The elder's spirit stirred slightly: "More than just physiognomy. I am proficient in fortune-telling, divination, and feng shui. Young man, your countenance is quite auspicious. How about I provide you with a reading?"

  Biuiao saw the elder looking at him and did not refuse. He had heard interesting rumors concerning this discipline before, but this was his first direct experience.

  Curiosity piqued.

  "Alright, elder, please take a look."

  "Let me calculate."

  Biuiao’s face showed clear anticipation.

  The elder counted on his fingers, his thumb tapping rhythmically across the knuckles of his palm. After mumbling briefly to himself, his expression gradually shifted to one of profound awe.

  "With the Green Dragon as your source of wealth, young man, you are destined for immense prosperity. Your academic foundation is sound, quite advanced—at least a bachelor's degree, and you appear to be a graduate student. Remarkable, young man! A noble benefactor will soon arrive, and your destiny is blessed with great fortune, supported by noble assistance. However, your romantic prospects might be somewhat regrettable."

  "Elder, you are incredible!"

  Biuiao was genuinely astonished.

  "Is this Nivertar numerology? To calculate so accurately without a supercomputer. I truly am a graduate student! Elder, you are amazing! Can you tell me when I can finally go home?!"

  Powerful!

  Far too powerful!

  Biuiao was deeply impressed.

  Even advanced civilizations like Aurora required supercomputers for observing the future. Yet, Nivertar humans could resolve this process through simple hand calculations and mental arithmetic.

  Simply astonishing!

  Biuiao discarded all other concerns. He only wanted to know when he could accumulate 500 tons of gold and, most importantly, when he could finally go home.

  "Uh, let me examine this point again."

  The elder was undeniably talented. At least his previous assertions had been correct. He once again calculated using his fingers, but this time, he could not reach a definitive conclusion.

  "Hiss, this knot is proving rather tricky."

  Biuiao grew slightly anxious.

  "What is the issue?"

  The elder explained, "The heavenly horse is constrained, indicating a strong desire for return, yet it encounters an obstruction, making immediate action difficult for a time. Young man, did you have an unexpected encounter involving an ship?"

  Biuiao nodded: "Something to that effect. My ship currently lacks a power source, so it remains grounded for now."

  "I do not grasp that terminology."

  The elder dismissed Biuiao's technical explanation immediately, shaking his head repeatedly: "I cannot decipher this knot."

  "Very well then, thank you."

  Biuiao felt a touch of disappointment, then quickly recomposed himself, enthusiastically asking the elder to read Mei's fortune as well: "Elder, would you also read hers?"

  "This young lady..."

  Mei's expression was gentle.

  The elder calculated on his fingers, then his eyes widened.

  "Hiss!"

  Biuiao was curious.

  "What's wrong?"

  The elder's eyes gradually widened. Unconvinced, he went over the previous calculation again, scrutinizing Mei carefully, completely shocked.

  "The Grand Duke's seal is imprinted on her destiny. Prosperity of the Green Dragon combined with calamity. Unfathomable nobility. If she were in ancient times, she would undoubtedly be born with the destiny of an Empress!"

  The elder had never before calculated such a destiny.

  He couldn't help but feel a little excited.

  "With a full calamity and a slaying White Tiger, if you were an empress, you would either be a debauched ruler who brought chaos to the land, or an eternal wise ruler who pacified the realm."

  Empress's destiny?

  Biuiao listened as if to a story, completely engrossed.

  Mei asked with some interest, "And now?"

  "Now, well…"

  The elder continued to look, his expression remaining astonished, then bewildered. He even confused himself: "It's still an Empress's destiny now! You possess the 'upward' seal. You don't wish to be an Empress? To put it plainly, you definitely have an inheritance awaiting you, but you stubbornly refuse it."

  This person's destiny was truly chaotic!

  The elder was genuinely perplexed. He was calculating things he couldn't even fully comprehend himself. Who would believe that this street busker girl was the daughter of some wealthy lineage?

  "Anything else? Anything else?"

  Biuiao was getting into it, eagerly pressing for more.

  "Let me look again."

  The elder, seeing Mei didn't comment on his rambling, continued: "Forging the decree, a matter of great fortune. This decree won't be fully cast in a short while. When the great decree is issued, when the Hidden Dragon ascends to the heavens, this probably means you don't want to inherit your fortune, but through your own effort, you can eventually reach the same heights."

  This old man was truly skilled in divination.

  The elder looked at Mei several times before departing, saying that while he had mastered this art, how accurate it truly was remained hard to say.

  After all, not many fortune-tellers would actually record someone's entire life trajectory to verify their accuracy. Even at a high level, there were times when one could overlook crucial details.

  Biuiao sighed.

  "So you have an inheritance waiting for you?"

  "Something like that."

  Strictly speaking, it wasn't an inheritance, but an endowment.

  "If you want it, I can give it to you."

  "Forget it."

  Biuiao quickly shook his head: "I cannot gain without first enduring hardship."

  Boom! Boom!

  Outside the shopping mall, the sky was covered in dark clouds. Rain poured down, accumulating on the canopy and forming a curtain of water, resembling a water curtain cave entrance.

  The splashing mist made the air damp.

  It was somewhat uncomfortable.

  Beneath the canopy,

  Biuiao idly played his guitar. The music echoed, mixing with the bustling sound of the rain. His tune, venturing into the rain curtain, was immediately dampened and silenced.

  Mei walked to the railing and looked down.

  Biuiao was curious.

  "What is it?"

  "There's a different sound."

  With that,

  Mei went downstairs. A short while later, she returned from another corner of the first floor of the shopping mall, carrying a cardboard box. Inside was a newborn puppy.

  "Woof, woof—"

  The puppy couldn't bark properly yet, only making soft "woof woof" sounds as it crawled around in the box. Its fur was a dull golden color, very soft.

  Biuiao took a closer look.

  "Looks like a wolf?"

  "Yes."

  Mei nodded. It was a bit mixed, but overall, the wolf characteristics were quite distinct. This was Biuiao's first close encounter with a puppy.

  He seemed particularly intrigued.

  He eagerly fumbled in his snakeskin bag, asking Mei, "Can I feed it something? Is milk okay? I still have some okara."

  A moment later,

  The puppy was sleepily licking milk in the cardboard box. Biuiao gently stroked the puppy's head. He was very fond of pets, especially puppies.

  Mei said to him: "You can give it a name."

  "Hmm…"

  Biuiao thought for a moment, then noticed the okara nearby. He immediately decided.

  "Then let's call it Okara!"

  Thus,

  The vagrant duo was followed by a playful puppy. Puppies are different from human youngsters; after eating their fill, their bodies expand rapidly, much like inflating balloons.

  In the blink of an eye,

  Okara had grown to over 30 centimeters tall. Since adult wolves don't get much larger, 30 centimeters was roughly its physical ceiling.

  Its size now reached approximately Biuiao's knees.

  "Okara, go!"

  "Woof!"

  Mei stood outside a glass shop window, observing the news. On the street behind her, Biuiao and Okara were running around. At his command, Okara immediately darted out and retrieved a soda bottle.

  "Woof, woof!"

  Okara dropped the soda bottle, wagging its tail and circling Biuiao. Through years of dedicated training, Okara was now an expert at retrieving soda bottles.

  Good observation skills.

  Mei remained focused on the news report.

  Biuiao scanned the street and spotted another small bottle. He pointed with his finger.

  "Okara, over there!"

  "Woof, woof!"

  At this critical moment,

  Okara darted out, its short legs executing a precise leap to snatch the soda bottle. It scurried back, then dramatically rolled onto its back on the ground.

  It indicated that it needed a brief rest.

  "Hungry?"

  Biuiao took a bun from his snakeskin bag and offered it to Okara. Okara immediately bit into it. Its meals were quite abundant; whatever Mei and Biuiao consumed, Okara shared.

  Finally,

  Mei snapped out of her concentration. She turned and waved her hand.

  "Okara, retreat!"

  Hearing this command,

  Okara ran off at top speed.

  Biuiao looked back and spotted the dog-catching enforcement team down the street. Although Mei had managed to register Okara, their persistent vagrant status still drew unwarranted prejudice from locals.

  To avoid unnecessary confrontation, they generally disliked interacting with the dog-catching squad. Besides, some people wouldn't engage in dialogue and would simply try to snatch the dog away.

  Biuiao also immediately sprinted after Okara.

  Returning to the shopping mall,

  Biuiao placed the gold he had acquired today into his snakeskin bag. Over the years, his gold collection had accumulated, becoming increasingly heavy—to the point where it was inconvenient to carry around.

  It was too heavy.

  He calculated mentally.

  "The accumulated gold is roughly 1000 grams."

  Compared to the 500 tons he needed, this was merely a drop in the ocean. Yet, even though 1000 grams of gold wasn't much overall, converted into currency, it amounted to 500,000 Eun.

  This represented Biuiao's entire savings from recent years.

  "Okara, look closely. This is my entire fortune!"

  "Woof, woof!"

  Okara wagged its tail and barked twice, perhaps not grasping the significance of Biuiao's declaration.

  "Biuiao."

  "Hmm?"

  Biuiao answered, turning around, and swiftly caught the guitar Mei threw. This instrument had been with them for years, holding immense sentimental value.

  "I'm leaving now. This is for you."

  "Oh? So soon?"

  Biuiao was surprised.

  Mei smiled and nodded. She was always accustomed to departures, always possessing a sense of inner peace.

  "I've rested sufficiently."

  "I see."

  Biuiao understood.

  He then took out a music box from his snakeskin bag. He had given one to Niros as well; he had customized three of these specific items.

  One for each of them.

  No gathering under heaven lasts forever.

  "I knew this would be useful. Then, I wish you a smooth journey!"

  "Okay."

  Mei accepted Biuiao's music box: "I also wish you an early collection of 500 tons of gold and a smooth journey home. I asked that old man to recalculate for you, and he confirmed your path home is clear."

  "Really?!"

  "Truly."

  Biuiao was overjoyed.

  At their parting,

  The dog didn't seem to grasp the finality of the moment, just happily frolicking around. Mei stroked Okara's head and waved goodbye to Biuiao.

  "Go on."

  Biuiao bid her a joyful farewell.

  "I probably won't venture anywhere else. If you want to return and find me, just come here. I should still be here before I finally head home."

  "Okay."

  "Woof, woof!"

  Okara stopped, watching Mei's gradually receding figure, then suddenly gave chase until Mei's silhouette disappeared entirely from Biuiao's sight.

  Then,

  Okara trotted back.

  It cleverly squatted beside Biuiao, silent, only staring intently in the direction Mei had vanished.

  At night,

  On the central plaza, only two remained: a man and a dog. As darkness settled and the square emptied, Biuiao sat alone by the fountain, gazing at the clear, profound night sky, his eyes filled with longing anticipation.

  "I wonder when I'll finally be able to go home."

  "Woof, woof!"

  At that moment,

  Okara leaped into the air. Unbeknownst to them, white flakes began to fall, glistening as they landed softly on Biuiao's hand.

  It felt chilly.

  A distinct hint of coldness.

  "Snow?"

  Biuiao's face lit up with genuine joy. He retrieved a thick coat from his snakeskin bag and put it on, also draping one over Okara. He had been on Nivertar for so long and had never witnessed snow before.

  "Haha, Okara, tomorrow I can go sledding!"

  ...

  【Tokens Acquired: 1 billion】

  【Tokens Acquired: 1.5 billion】

  【Tokens Acquired: 3 billion】

  "..."

  【Remaining Tokens: 8.2471 trillion】

  After her vacation concluded, Mei casually gathered a few more trial participants. Very quickly, a month passed, and the next Hyperdimensional Space mission was imminent.

  Mei entered Hyperdimensional Space.

  Next up:

  She was scheduled to undertake the Tier 2 to Tier 3 advancement mission.